MIRI: A 49-year-old man here found himself over RM300,000 poorer after falling victim to a fraudulent scheme by an individual posing as his old friend.
The unsuspecting victim, who also owns a company, was enticed by the suspect’s offer of discounted beer and cigarettes, which he claimed were available at a lower price than the market rate.
Miri police chief, ACP Alexson Naga Chabu, said that the victim was lured into making a series of bank transactions over a span of five days, starting from May 19.
The total sum amounted to RM320,000, as the victim eagerly sought to secure the supposedly cheap products from the fraudster.
“The victim only realised he had been cheated when the ordered items failed to arrive here, and all attempts to contact the suspect proved futile,” said Alexson in a press release yesterday.
“It is crucial for the public to exercise caution and refrain from readily trusting individuals who claim to offer products at prices significantly below the prevailing market rates,” he added.
The case is currently being pursued under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
