KUALA TERENGGANU: A trader here lost over RM175,000 after falling victim to a scam involving a nonexistent order for goods.
Kuala Terengganu OCPD Supt Azli Mohd Noor said that on June 3, the 50-year-old victim was contacted by his foster brother, who said he had been offered a project to supply sports equipment to Kolej Universiti Bestari (KUB) in Setiu.
The foster brother said he had to decline the offer, purportedly from a ministry office in Putrajaya, owing to financial constraints and instead passed it on to the victim.
"The victim agreed to take up the project to deliver the goods to KUB on June 8.
"Subsequently, he received a call from a woman claiming to be from the same office, who requested additional items such as dates, traditional daggers and decorative plates.
"She also provided contact details of several so-called suppliers,” he said in a statement on Sunday (June 15).
Supt Azli said the victim contacted the alleged suppliers and subsequently made payments in stages totalling RM175,452.80 to several bank accounts they provided.
However, the victim later discovered that the woman was not affiliated with the ministry and that the said order did not exist.
"The victim lodged a police report on Saturday (June 14).
"The payments were made using his savings and funds from a business partner,” Supt Azli said.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. – Bernama
