KUCHING: A man has lost RM287,000 after being drawn into a fake online stock investment scheme that promised lucrative returns but left him empty-handed.
The 55-year-old fell for the scam after coming across a stock investment advertisement on Facebook in March.
Believing the offer was genuine, he signed up for the purported “UOBS” investment scheme and was instructed to transfer money into several bank accounts as part of the investment process.
Kuching police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said between April and May, the man made 11 transactions amounting to RM287,000 into six different bank accounts provided by the suspect.
“It was only after completing the payments that the victim realised he had been scammed when he could no longer contact the suspect and failed to receive the promised returns.
“A police report was lodged at the Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) office, and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.”
In light of this, members of the public are reminded not to be easily persuaded by investment opportunities promoted on social media, especially those promising unusually high returns with little or no risk.
He urged would-be investors to verify the legitimacy of investment companies through Bank Negara Malaysia or the Securities Commission Malaysia before making any financial commitment.
Those who have just transferred money to suspected scam accounts should immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997, as swift action could increase the chances of freezing the fraudulent transaction.
ACP Alexson encouraged the public to check suspicious numbers and bank accounts through the Check Scammers CCID app or Semak Mule portal before carrying out any financial transaction.
They can also follow the CCID’s official social media platforms for the latest scam alerts and modus operandi.
