JOHOR BARU: A store manager here lost more than RM600,000 after falling prey to a part-time job scam that promised big commissions.
Seri Alam OCPD Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the 46-year-old man’s ordeal started in August when he came across an advertisement on Facebook offering lucrative commissions for making hotel bookings through a particular website.
“The victim carried out the first few tasks and was initially given the commission as promised.
"He then proceeded to make 26 more transactions amounting to RM624,447.
“However, he never got back the commissions that were promised, nor did he get his money back.
“The victim filed a police report on Tuesday (Nov 28) after realising something was amiss.
"His suspicions arose when the money did not arrive and the website could no longer be accessed,” Supt Mohd Sohaimi said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 29).
In a separate case, he said a 78-year-old woman reported that she was duped through a fake investment scheme.
“The woman was lured into investing in the scheme when she came across a Facebook advertisement by a company claiming to offer guidance on getting high returns fast.
“She was then given a link that would purportedly give her daily investment guides.
“Intrigued by the returns that were promised through the ‘guides’, she made several transactions to four different accounts amounting to RM420,000,” he said, adding that the women lodged a police report after realising she had been scammed.
Both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides up to 10 years' imprisonment with whipping and a fine if convicted.
