KUCHING: A 54-year-old local man lost RM728,800 after falling victim to a non-existent share investment scam linked to a social media advertisement.
Kuching district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the case was reported to the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of Kuching police.
He said the incident began on Dec. 28, 2025, when the victim came across a share investment advertisement on Facebook while at home.
“The victim was instructed to click a WhatsApp link and was later contacted by an individual who introduced herself as ‘Vivian Chow’, claiming to be a trade assistant for an investment scheme known as Accumulation & Growth Investment Alliance, he said in a statement on Saturday.
Alexson said the victim was subsequently added into a WhatsApp group related to the scheme and instructed to download an application via a link provided, identified as the Bospro application, purportedly to manage investment funds and returns.
Believing the scheme to be legitimate, the victim made 10 online fund transfers into six different bank accounts in stages, he said.
The scam was only uncovered after the victim failed to withdraw the purported profits displayed in the application.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping, and a possible fine upon conviction.
Alexson advised the public to verify the legitimacy of investment entities through the Securities Commission Malaysia website and to be wary of investment offers on social media that promise high returns.
Those who believe they have been scammed are urged to contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) hotline at 997 within 24 hours or report suspicious activities to the Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department.
