KUCHING: A human resources supervisor found himself ensnared in a financial nightmare that left him RM980,000 poorer.
The unfortunate ordeal happened on July 18 when the victim in his late 40s, received a WhatsApp message from an unfamiliar number, with the sender posing as a Bitcoin investment agent.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the victim, who was eager to explore potential opportunities, engaged in several conversations with this new-found contact.
Not suspecting anything amiss, the victim followed the trail of promises and was soon presented with a Telegram link and identification, purportedly leading to a lucrative investment website.
“The victim was enticed by the prospect of substantial gains and was instructed to deposit money under the guise of investment capital.
“Lured by the promise of up to 50 per cent returns of the profits, the victim plunged headlong into the scheme.
“From mid-July to mid-August, the victim had transferred a total of RM980,000 into 34 different bank accounts as he remained hopeful of the promised windfall,” he said.
Mohd Azman said the victim realised that he had been cheated as none of the returns materialised despite his sizeable investments.
The victim then lodged a police report yesterday. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
In light of this, the public are advised to only invest through proper platforms that are registered with Bank Negara Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia, and seek financial advice from registered agents only about an investment.
Furthermore, the public are urged to exercise caution when encountering unfamiliar links or downloadable files, as these could potentially lead to malicious software or scams.
