KUCHING: A Facebook encounter left a private firm employee RM271,000 poorer after he fell victim to a non-existent investment scheme.
Kuching police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah confirmed that they received a report from the 40 something victim on Monday (June 10).
After following the investment scheme on Facebook, the man was added to a WhatsApp group called ‘Pimco Malaysia Station’, in which he was promised high returns of up to 400 per cent.
“In order to carry out the investment, the victim had to download an application, provided by the suspect, into his smartphone
“The victim then transferred a sum of RM271,000 into six different company accounts via 18 transactions from April to June this year,” he said.
Ahsmon said the man realised that he had been cheated after trying to withdraw the investment profit but was unsuccessful, as he was asked to pay a commission to withdraw the profit.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
From January until June this year, the Kuching Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) recorded 27 cases involving the same modus operandi and losses amounting to RM2,920,589.89.
