SIBU: A 30-year-old hardware dealer lost RM6,000 after being deceived by a bogus officer from the Sarikei Education Office.
Sibu Police Chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili said that the incident began on Nov 11, when the victim received a call from a man introducing himself as ‘Simon’ claiming to represent the Sarikei Education Office.
“The suspect offered the victim a lucrative tender to supply construction materials to schools in the district and the victim, convinced by the offer, proceeded with the deal,” he said in a statement today (Nov 24).
He added that Simon informed the victim that the tender had been approved and sent a letter of agreement via WhatsApp on Nov 14.
“Trusting its legitimacy, the victim signed and returned the document. The scam escalated when Simon claimed the contract required the supply of a 4,000W power station,” he said.
However, after the victim expressed difficulties in obtaining the item, Simon referred him to a supposed supplier named Jenny and communicated via WhatsApp.
“Jenny issued an invoice for the power station priced at RM30,998. When the victim explained he could not afford the full payment, he was contacted by another party, purportedly from a company in Penang, offering to provide RM6,000 in advance for the purchase,” he said.
On Nov 20, the victim transferred RM6,000 to a bank account provided by Jenny.
However, his suspicions were raised the following day when he confirmed that the said party had never made such a request.
Realising he had been scammed, the victim lodged a police report on November 21.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
