KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 230 investment scams advertised via social media platform TikTok with losses surpassing RM15mil, have been recorded since 2021, says Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.
The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director said investment scams on TikTok have grown steadily since 2021.
"In 2021, 13 cases were recorded followed by 27 cases in 2022, 59 cases in 2023 and 131 cases between January and October this year.
"In terms of losses, it was RM.041mil in 2021, followed by RM1.28mil in 2022, RM7.25mil last year and RM6.39mil so far this year," he told a press conference at the CCID headquarters on Tuesday (Nov 26).
For the cases this year, the victims consisted of 66 women and 65 men, he said.
"Those aged 31-40 years old are the highest number of victims (23%), followed by aged 21-30 (21.4%), aged 41-50 (17.5%), aged 51-60 (15.9%), aged 61-70 (15.1%), and aged 11-20 (7.1%).
"Most of the victims consisted of those working in the private sector, representing 54% of the total victims while among other victims were retirees (9.9%), civil servants (7.6%) and students (4.6%)," he said.
Comm Ramly said the police are sharing the data to remind the public that social media platforms are being used by investment scam syndicates.
"Again I remind everyone that investment schemes offered on social media platforms are scams.
"Be a smart social media user and take precautionary measures so that you don't become victims of scams.
"One of the ways is to check with the Securities Commission (SC) on whether an investment scheme is legitimate or otherwise," he said.
