Tuition teacher in Ipoh loses over RM200,000 to investment scam

BATU PAHAT: A tuition teacher who intended to purchase second-hand books online suffered a loss of over RM200,000 in a fraudulent investment scheme.

Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Ismail Dollah stated that the 48-year-old woman initially contacted an individual through Facebook and later on WhatsApp on August 11 to buy the used items.

Throughout their conversation, the perpetrator informed the victim about an investment scheme that guarantees substantial returns.

Subsequently, the offender sent the victim a link, which she proceeded to click on, as stated by ACP Ismail in a statement on Tuesday (Sept 12).

“In order to earn her trust, the suspect instructed the victim to utilize his login ID and password to verify that he had accumulated earnings of US$200,000 (RM935,000) in his yet-to-be-encashed account.

“Additionally, the suspect falsely assured the victim that she would receive returns every day after 10pm, while also promising her that she would receive a full refund of the funds she had invested, along with some discount vouchers,” he mentioned.

ACP Ismail further added that enticed by the offer, the victim transferred a total of RM206,000 into five different bank accounts between August 25 and September 5.

“The woman realized she had been deceived when she did not receive the promised high returns and vouchers,” he stated.

ACP Ismail highlighted that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for the offense of cheating.

“Once again, the public is advised to remain cautious of investment schemes that offer impossibly high returns.

“Before transferring significant sums of money to strangers, it is crucial to consult the authorities for verification,” he urged.

To avoid falling victim to scams, individuals can check if any bank accounts or phone numbers are associated with suspicious activities by visiting https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my.