NILAI: A businessman and a nurse have lost almost RM1mil after being scammed by fraudsters in separate incidents here.
Nilai OCPD Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said a 31-year-old businessman lost RM655,000 after being falsely accused of involvement in money laundering.
"The victim said an individual claiming to be from Tenaga Nasional contacted him on 21 November and informed him that a premises registered in his name had been used for illegal activities.
The call was then supposedly transferred to an officer in Bukit Aman, who accused the victim of being involved in money laundering," he said.
Supt Abdul Malik added that the victim was instructed to transfer his savings into different bank accounts while the police investigated the matter.
The victim complied, transferring the money into 11 accounts via 14 transactions. He later realised he had been scammed and lodged a police report on Monday (Dec 23).
In the second case, a 49-year-old woman lost almost RM305,000 after being duped into investing in an online investment scheme.
The victim, a nurse working abroad, decided to invest after seeing an advertisement on Facebook on 4 November.
"An individual then called the victim and explained the so-called investment. Convinced by the promised returns, the woman agreed to invest," he said.
Supt Abdul Malik said the victim transferred her savings into five different bank accounts via 13 transactions.
She became suspicious when her mobile number was denied access to the investment site on 3 December, and she was unable to withdraw her "profits."
The victim then lodged a police report.
Supt Abdul Malik said both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
He advised those planning to make online investments, especially in schemes offering unusually high returns, to check with the authorities or Bank Negara Malaysia before investing.
The public can also call the police’s CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-2610 1559 or 03-2610 1599 for additional information.
