MIRI: A 32-year-old man lost RM2,470 after falling victim to a Facebook scratch-and-win scam that promised him RM80,827 in prize money.
The victim was reportedly lured into the online contest on Nov 4 after coming across a live broadcast on Facebook, where he purchased 20 scratch cards for RM50.
After scratching all 20 cards, he was informed that he had won RM80,827 but was told to pay RM720 to claim the prize.
Police said the victim subsequently made three transactions totalling RM2,470 to two accounts provided by the suspect.
These comprised RM50 and RM720 paid into a Touch ‘n Go account under the name Aliyu Hasee, followed by RM1,700 transferred to an AmBank account under the name Susi Anak Ping Siong.
The RM1,700 payment was purportedly required for bank account verification, with the victim assured that it would be refunded together with his prize money.
However, by about 3pm on Nov 5, the promised winnings had not materialised. The victim was also unable to contact the suspect, while the Facebook account used to promote the contest could no longer be found.
Realising that he had been cheated, the victim lodged a police report, with his total losses amounting to RM2,470.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
Police have urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with online contests, lucky draws and scratch-and-win promotions, particularly those offering substantial cash prizes through social media.
Members of the public are advised not to be enticed by unrealistic prize offers or make payments for purported processing, verification or redemption fees without first checking the organiser’s legitimacy.
They should also avoid transferring money to unfamiliar accounts based on instructions received through social media and verify the authenticity of competitions before participating.
Anyone who suspects they have fallen victim to an online scam should immediately contact their respective banks and the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 for assistance.
