MUKAH: A Facebook advertisement promising quick cash from Shopee SPayLater left a teacher RM12,160 poorer after she was duped into making multiple payments for a withdrawal that never materialised.
The 37-year-old was initially offered RM3,500 in cash at a two per cent interest rate through a service advertised as ‘Cashout Paylater Bysalwah’.
Mukah police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias said the teacher came across the advertisement on Nov 6 before contacting the purported service provider through Messenger and WhatsApp.
She was later instructed to scan several QR codes, supposedly to facilitate the cash withdrawal and verify her account.
“Instead, she was directed to make multiple payments through online banking and Touch ‘n Go to several accounts provided by the scammers.
“After collecting the payments, the scammers claimed that the withdrawal system was temporarily switched off and assured her that the money would be credited to her account by 7am the following day.
“However, the promised RM3,500 never arrived,” he said.
The next day (Nov 7), the scammers demanded another RM499, which prompted the victim to realise she had been cheated.
She lodged a police report on Nov 8 and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
Further checks through the CCIS database found that the phone number used in the transaction had been linked to several police reports in other districts. One of the Touch ‘n Go accounts involved had also been mentioned in a previous police report.
Rizal reminded the public not to be lured by SPayLater cash-out advertisements or similar financial offers circulating on social media.
He warned against scanning QR codes or transferring money to unknown individuals based on instructions received through social media or messaging applications.
Members of the public were also urged never to disclose their banking details, passwords, verification codes or personal information to strangers.
