JOHOR BARU: A jewellery shop clerk lost RM2.6mil after falling for an online investment scam that she saw on social media, here.
Johor Police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the 49-year-old woman lodged a police report on Saturday (Nov 30), detailing how she had been tricked into believing a lucrative investment opportunity.
“The victim first encountered an advertisement for an online investment scheme on social media at the end of August this year.
“Interested in the offer, she clicked on the provided link to gather more information.
“Shortly after, she was contacted by several individuals who explained the investment plan, which promised returns of up to 9% on the amount invested,” he said in a statement here on Sunday (Dec 1).
Comm Kumar added that at the beginning of October, the woman decided to invest RM100,000 as a test.
“She then received a return of RM12,100, which further convinced her of the scheme’s legitimacy.
“Encouraged by the initial profit, she invested more money between October and November, transferring a total of RM2,656,600 from her personal and joint bank accounts to several different bank accounts provided by the suspects.
“However, no further returns were forthcoming. Instead, the victim was instructed to make additional payments in order to receive her profits and initial capital back,” said Comm Kumar.
Growing suspicious, the woman realised she had been scammed and lodged a police report in Batu Pahat.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
In light of this incident, Johor police have issued a public warning urging people to be cautious and avoid falling for investment offers seen on social media or online platforms that promise high returns with minimal risk.
“The public is urged to verify investment opportunities with relevant agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Securities Commission Malaysia before committing any funds.
“They can also use the 'Semak Mule' service to check the status of bank accounts and phone numbers linked to suspects before proceeding with any financial transactions.
“The public can also stay informed about current commercial crime trends to avoid becoming victims of similar scams,” he explained.
Updates and information about common fraud methods can be found through the official social media channels of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (@CyberCrimeAlert and @JSJK PDRM) on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
