JOHOR BARU: The owner of a nursery and electrical shop lost more than RM150,000 after falling for a scam to import bonsai trees from Taiwan.
Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat said the victim, a 42-year-old local woman, reported the incident on Nov 15.
“She alleged that she lost RM159,737 after being deceived by a local woman who offered assistance in obtaining the import permit.
“The victim first received the offer via a phone call on Sept 14. Believing the suspect’s claims, she agreed to proceed with the process,” he said in a statement here on Saturday (Nov 16).
ACP Raub added that from Sept 18 to Oct 9, the victim made seven online transactions totalling RM99,737 to two different bank accounts and paid an additional RM60,000 in cash.
“After completing the payments, the suspect blocked the victim’s phone number, making it impossible for her to recover her money,” he said.
Police are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries penalties of imprisonment for one to ten years, whipping, and fines.
