JOHOR BARU: Two men have suffered losses amounting to nearly RM300,000 after being duped in two separate scam cases in Johor.
In the first case, Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Yusof Othman said a 47-year-old manager lodged a police report on Thursday about a non-existing investment scheme that the victim came across on Facebook.
“The victim suffered losses amounting to RM124,000 after making 21 transactions into three different bank accounts.
“The case started in May when the victim spotted an investment opportunity on social media, which purportedly offered millions of ringgit in returns,” he said here yesterday.
Supt Yusof said the victim was given an ID that allowed him to monitor his investment status as well as returns through an app.
“The victim was confident that the investment scheme was real as he was able to monitor his investment. At that time, he received RM55,000 in returns.
“However, the victim was coaxed to make additional investments amounting to RM124,000,” he added.
Supt Yusof said the victim lodged a report after failing to withdraw purported profits amounting to RM9mil through the app.
In the second case, Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said a retired lecturer was cheated in another bogus investment scheme.
He said the 60-year-old victim lodged a report on Thursday though he had made investments in the bogus scheme since 2022.
“According to the victim, he met with an individual who claimed to be representing an investment company that was involved in kenaf tree plantation.
“The victim was briefed about the investment opportunity where he was promised a dividend of 3% of his investments every month,” ACP Shahrulanuar Mushaddat said.
He said the victim became interested in the investment and signed several agreements with the suspect.
He said on June 8, 2022, the victim started making monetary transactions into a company’s bank account, in stages, amounting to RM200,000.
“The victim received dividends amounting to RM30,000 but starting January last year, there was none.
“That was when he realised he had been cheated,” ACP Shahrulanuar Mushaddat said, adding that the victim’s total loss was RM170,000.
Police have classified the two cases under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and urged the public not to easily fall for any investment opportunities that offer high returns.
