JOHOR BARU: A local trader has lost more than RM1mil after falling victim to a fake part-time job offer advertised on social media, says Comm Datuk M. Kumar.
The Johor police chief added that the victim, who is in his 40s, lodged a report on Sunday (June 22), claiming that he had been duped by an online scam offering high-paying commissions for reselling goods.
“The victim came across a part-time job advertisement on social media on March 26 this year, where he was promised 25% commission for purchasing and reselling certain goods,” he said here on Tuesday (June 24).
Comm Kumar added that after registering for the job, the victim was instructed to make several transactions to different bank accounts as part of the buying process.
“He made a total of 22 transfers amounting to more than RM1.15mil between March 28 and June 13 into various bank accounts purportedly linked to the business.
“However, the victim did not receive any commission or returns as promised, and eventually realised he had been cheated,” Comm Kumar added.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a jail term of one to 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Comm Kumar urged the public to be wary of social media job offers that promise lucrative returns, especially those that require upfront payments.
“We advise the public to remain cautious and not fall easily for online job scams that seem too good to be true,” he said.
He also urged Malaysians to make use of available verification tools before making any payments online.
“This includes contacting the CCID Infoline, using the ‘Semak Mule’ portal, or downloading the Whoscall app to screen unknown numbers and accounts,” he said.
Comm Kumar also advised the public to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 if they suspect they have fallen victim to a scam.
“Prompt reporting can help freeze the suspect’s account and potentially recover funds before they are transferred out,” he added.
Comm Kumar also said that for latest information on scam tactics and prevention tips, the public can follow the official social media pages of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) under the handle @Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersil - JSJK PDRM on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
