JOHOR BARU: A 34-year-old unemployed man lost RM56,500 after falling victim to a non-existent online loan scam.
Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat stated that the scam specifically targeted individuals susceptible to online loan offers.
"The victim saw a loan advertisement on Facebook on Nov 22, 2024. After discussions with the alleged lender, he agreed to apply for a RM250,000 loan and provided his personal details," he said.
On Jan 2, the victim received a call informing him that his loan had been approved.
Believing the promise, he made 12 separate transactions between Jan 2 and Jan 3, transferring funds for insurance fees, credit score enhancement, and loan processing fees into two different bank accounts, losing a total of RM56,500.
To date, the victim has not received the promised loan and, realizing he had been deceived, filed a police report on Friday (Jan 31).
Preliminary investigations revealed that the phone number used and the two bank accounts involved have no prior records of fraudulent activity.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, ACP Raub reported that police arrested six teenagers for illegal street racing during an operation on Feb 1, between 1am and 5am at the city centre.
The operation focused on inspecting riders and vehicles engaged in dangerous activities that pose risks to themselves and others, particularly during the Chinese New Year festive season and school holidays.
During the operation, six motorcycles were seized for inspection under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Additionally, ten summonses were issued for various offences, including driving without a licence and illegal vehicle modifications that did not meet regulatory specifications.
Six male motorcyclists, aged between 16 and 19, were arrested for performing dangerous stunts on public roads, posing serious risks to both themselves and other road users.
They are being investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous riding.
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