KUALA LUMPUR: A man with a Datuk title lost RM26.6mil after being duped by a crypto investment scam.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the victim, who is a construction company director, saw the advertisement on the investment scheme online.
“He clicked on a web link and was added to a WhatsApp group.
“He was then taught about investments by a person, who introduced himself as Prof Stanley Lim.
“Attracted by promises of lucrative returns, the victim downloaded an application and began investing,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Comm Ramli said the victim transferred a total of RM26.6mil to nine bank accounts registered under various companies, between Oct 17 and Dec 24 last year.
“He then checked the progress of his investment through the downloaded app, which showed US$269.247mil (RM1.3bil) in profits.
“However, when the victim wanted to withdraw the money, he was instructed to pay RM5.56mil as tax charges,” he said.
Five bank accounts used in the case are also connected to 38 other scam cases, Comm Ramli said.
“A total of 46 police reports have been lodged on the investment scam involving some RM61.4mil in losses.
“There are still those who are being duped by such scams despite numerous reminders and alerts.
“The public should go to authorised entities to invest and do proper checks before making any investment,” he said.
In another case, three goldsmith workers in Sungai Buloh were detained for alleged criminal breach of trust.
Comm Ramli said the goldsmith’s manager lodged a report on Feb 5.
“He claimed that 26 pieces of jewellery were found to be fake.
“We detained three female workers, aged between 28 and 38, and discovered 26 pawn notices worth RM225,550 involving 762.82gm of gold.
“We believe the suspects had switched the genuine jewellery with fake ones since June last year.”
