IPOH: A technician lost almost RM445,000 after falling victim to an online job scam last November, according to police.State acting police chief Deputy Comm Zulkafli Sariaat said that on Nov 21, the 42-year-old local man came across a job posting on Facebook and was attracted by the commission.
The victim then communicated with a male suspect via WhatsApp.
DCP Zulkafli said the suspect instructed the victim to make advance payments for goods, initially in small amounts that later escalated into tens of thousands of ringgit.
In return, the suspect promised the victim a refund along with a commission ranging from 4% to 10% of the payment made.
“The victim made several online transfers to 10 different bank accounts, totalling RM444,967.“He only realised he had been scammed when the promised commission never materialised,” DCP Zulkafli said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.
Meanwhile, an oil rig worker lost RM48,905.41 to a non-existent investment scheme.
Kuala Terengganu police chief Asst Comm Azli Mohd Noor said the victim, 51, claimed to have joined the investment scheme, known as AI Auto Trade investment, on Jan 3 via WhatsApp.
The victim, from Gong Badak in Kuala Nerus, claimed he was promised a profit of RM5,890 within six to 24 hours with an investment as low as RM400.
“After making the initial investment of RM400, his name was included in a WhatsApp investment group, which was joined by five other participants and an administrator named Nora.
“The victim was then told he had made a profit and must make a payment for profit withdrawal.
“He obliged and made nine transactions totalling RM48,905.41 to seven different bank accounts,” ACP Azli said yesterday.
