MIRI: A trader hoping to double his money, ended up losing RM300,000 to an online investment scam that promised sky-high returns— but delivered nothing but heartbreak.
In early January, the victim, a man in his 50s, was lured into the scheme after coming across a Facebook advertisement by a company called ‘XGI Horizon Construction Sdn Bhd’.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the victim, tempted by promises of fast profits ranging from 30 to 100 per cent, clicked a link and was contacted by an individual claiming to be an investment agent.
“Persuaded by the offer, the victim transferred RM300,000 in stages into several bank accounts provided by the suspect.
“But things started to seem not right when the suspect began pressuring him for more payments. That was when he realised he had been duped,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
Mancha urged members of the public to be wary of any investment offer that appears too good to be true.
“They should verify the legitimacy of such schemes with Bank Negara Malaysia via http://www.bnm.gov.my or BNMTELELINK at 1-300-88-5465, and the Securities Commission Malaysia at http://www.sc.com.my or 03-6204 8999.
“Background checks on individuals or companies offering investments can also be done through the SC Investment Checker app or at https://www.sc.com.my/investment-checker,” he said.
For further assistance or to report scams, the public can contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 and follow @CyberCrimeAlertRMP and @JSJKPDRM on Facebook for the latest updates.
