SARIKEI: A private contractor in his 50s lost about RM460,000 after falling victim to a non-existent online investment scam advertised on social media.
Sarikei Police Chief, Supt Aswandy Anis, said the victim realised he had been deceived into transferring large sums of money without receiving any returns, prompting him to lodge a police report on Friday (Jan 16).
He said the incident began when the victim came across an investment advertisement on Facebook promising quick and high returns, before being redirected to WhatsApp and added to a group known as ‘65 EP’.
“The WhatsApp group was used to teach and explain the so-called investment scheme, which was purportedly linked to ‘FTSE Bursa Malaysia’.
“The victim was in contact with an individual known as ‘Luna Lee’, who acted as an instructor in the group and promised returns of 25 per cent within 24 hours.
“The victim was instructed to follow the suspect’s directions to carry out the non-existent investment and was also coached on how to make large bank transfers, including being told to declare the payments as home renovation expenses,” he said in a statement.
Aswandy said that between Dec 5, 2025, and Jan 5, 2026, the victim carried out seven transactions totalling about RM460,000 into two different bank accounts registered under separate company names.
He said the victim only realised he had been scammed after being repeatedly asked to make additional payments to supposedly release the promised profits, which never materialised.
Police advised the public to remain cautious of investment offers on social media, verify suspicious phone numbers and bank accounts through official channels, and immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 if a fraudulent transaction has just occurred.
Members of the public may also reach the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Infoline at 013-211 1222 for advice or to report online fraud cases.
