MIRI: It began as a friendly chat on TikTok that turned into a nightmare for a 46-year-old man from Miri, who ended up losing a total of RM139,000 to a sophisticated online part-time job scam.
Miri District Police Chief, ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah, said that the victim, a private company manager, had befriended a woman on TikTok who lured him with what seemed like a lucrative online side job through a platform called Quantcastshop.
“Believing the offer was genuine, the victim opened an online shop and began making product sales on the platform. Later, he was told he needed to pay verification and sales tax fees to continue trading and withdraw his profits,” he said in a statement.
Convinced by the suspect’s promises, the victim made five transactions amounting to RM139,427 to two separate bank accounts.
His hopes were shattered when he failed to receive any of the promised returns, realising too late that he had been conned.
“The victim’s money came entirely from his personal savings,” Farhan added, stating that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, an offence that carries a prison term of up to 10 years, whipping, and a fine.
He reminded the public not to be easily tempted by online job offers that promise high profits in a short time, urging jobseekers to verify such opportunities through official channels.
“Anyone who suspects they may have fallen victim to an online scam should immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 before it’s too late,” he added.
Members of the public are also encouraged to check phone numbers and bank accounts through the Check Scammers CCID app or visit the ‘Semak Mule’ website at http://semakmule.rmp.gov.my for verification.
Police also advised the public to stay updated on the latest scam tactics by following the Commercial Crime Investigation Department’s Facebook pages.
