JEMPOL: A self-employed woman lost more than RM250,000 after being duped into believing her online investments would yield unusually high returns.
Jempol OCPD Supt Hoo Chang Hook said the 39-year-old woman was enticed by an advertisement she saw on social media in October and decided to invest.
"The victim was told that if she invested RM150,000 in the scheme, she would get a profit of RM1.44mil within two months.
"Believing in the promise of unusually high returns, she started transferring money into six different bank accounts," he said, adding she first invested RM250.
Hoo Chang Hook.
Supt Hoo said between November 12 and 24, the woman transferred RM252,004 into the accounts through 15 transactions.
He added that she borrowed money from friends to invest in the scheme, which was later found to be non-existent.
The woman became suspicious when she could not withdraw her so-called profits.
"On the contrary, the scammers kept asking her to increase her investments for even higher returns," he said.
Supt Hoo said the woman, from Bahau, eventually realised she had been scammed and lodged a report.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
He advised the public to always check with official sources such as Bank Negara before investing in any scheme, especially those promising unusually high returns.
The public can also call the Commercial Crime Investigation Department Scam Response Centre at 03-2610 1559 or 03-2610 1599, he added.
