MUAR: A female clerk lost more than RM277,580 of her savings after becoming a victim of an online job scam.
Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz reported that the 42-year-old victim was searching for a part-time job online when she clicked on a link and contacted an individual via WhatsApp.
"The individual claimed to represent a company named ‘HR Hotelrunner’. After the victim shared her personal details, she was added to a WhatsApp group called ‘Bookassist Marketing Grp’," he explained in a statement on Sunday (Aug 3).
He noted that the victim then communicated with another individual who instructed her to complete several hotel room booking tasks online, requiring her to make upfront payments with her own money.
"The victim was promised commissions ranging from 10% to 35% for each task. Initially, she received a return on her first transaction in July, which encouraged her to continue with more tasks," he said.
ACP Raiz added that the victim made 44 transactions in total to 13 different bank accounts, amounting to RM277,445.
"All these payments were supposedly for completing the assigned tasks. The victim only realised she had been scammed when she was asked to make an additional payment to withdraw her promised returns.
"She refused further payments and lodged a police report," he said, noting that the funds were from her personal savings.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a jail term of one to ten years, with whipping and a fine upon conviction.
"I advise the public to be cautious of any online part-time job offers promising unrealistic returns. Always verify the authenticity of the company or individual before making any transactions.
"Additionally, the public is advised to stay updated by following the Commercial Crime Investigation Department’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest scam tactics," he advised.
