SARIKEI: A civil servant was left RM58,800 poorer after falling victim to a non-existent investment scam.
The incident happened at the end of last month when the 55-year-old man encountered the fake scheme by the name of Avatrade on Facebook.
Sarikei police chief Supt Aswandy Anis said the victim contacted a supposed investment agent and was directed to join a Telegram group to receive more details on the investment.
“Attracted by the lucrative offers and promised returns, the victim transferred RM58,800 in stages to several bank accounts between late October and early November.
“However, the victim realised he had been cheated when no returns were credited as promised,” he said in a statement.
The man reported the incident to the police and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
Aswandy advised the public to be cautious and to invest only on platforms officially registered with Bank Negara Malaysia and the Malaysian Securities Commission.
He also recommended consulting financial advisors from registered agencies before committing to any investment.
“Do not be easily lured by short-term investment schemes, and avoid transferring money into accounts that are not clearly linked to a registered investment platform,” he said.
Members of the public can also verify the account numbers and phone numbers through the Check Scammer CCID or the https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my/ website before conducting any financial transactions.
