Senior exec in Bintulu loses RM600,000 in online investment scam
BINTULU (July 5): A senior company executive in his 60s has fallen victim to an online investment scam, suffering losses amounting to approximately RM600,000, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata.
He said the victim lodged a police report after realising he had been duped by a fraudulent investment scheme that began in early March this year.
'The victim, while at home, came across an online advertisement promoting a foreign currency investment opportunity, purportedly linked to an established financial institution,' Mancha said in a statement yesterday.
Upon clicking the link, the victim was contacted by an individual claiming to represent JP Morgan. The suspect instructed the victim to download an application via a provided link and guided him through the process of investing via what appeared to be a legitimate platform.
'Over a period of time, the victim made several transactions totalling about RM600,000 into various bank accounts supplied by the suspect,' Mancha said.
The scam came to light when the suspect repeatedly requested additional payments, claiming they were necessary to release the investment returns.
Suspicious of the continuous demands, the victim eventually realised he had been scammed.
To date, the victim has only managed to recover RM441 from the so-called investment.
Mancha urged the public to exercise caution when encountering investment opportunities online, especially those promoted through unsolicited links or messages.
'Do not be easily influenced by investment offers advertised on social media or unfamiliar websites. Always conduct background checks and verify the legitimacy of the company or platform before making any financial commitment,' he advised.
He encouraged the public to utilise tools such as the Whoscall mobile application available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store to screen unknown calls and reduce exposure to scam-related risks.
Mancha also advised the public to check the status of any investment company or website via the official portals of Bank Negara Malaysia (www.bnm.gov.my, BNM Telelink: 1-300-88-5465) or the Securities Commission Malaysia (www.sc.com.my, tel: 03-6204 8999).
'For individuals who have just made a transaction to a suspected scam account or e-wallet, it is critical to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via the 997 hotline,' he added.
The case is currently under investigation.
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