Retiree loses RM355,200 to non-existent job tender

PADAWAN: A retired assistant medical officer fell victim to a heart-wrenching scam, losing a staggering RM355,200 to a non-existent job tender.
 
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said they recently received a police report from the 62-year-old, who detailed how the unfortunate incident happened.
 
It all started on March 15, when the victim turned to Facebook in search of someone capable of installing window grills.
 
The victim then stumbled upon a contractor who seemed qualified for the task and contacted him through WhatsApp.
 
On May 25, the suspect came to the victim’s house to measure the windows for the installation of grills, and during this encounter, the victim inquired about the procedure to acquire a business licence and tender from the government.
 
“Seizing the opportunity, the suspect readily volunteered his assistance in securing a lawn mowing and landscaping tender slated for mid-June this year.
 
“However, the sly perpetrator cunningly stipulated that, in order to obtain the sought-after business licence and tender, the victim was required to make a payment.
 
“Falling prey to the suspect’s deceptive words, the victim complied and proceeded to transfer a total of RM355,200 via 11 transactions into a bank account provided by the suspect,” he said.
 
Days turned into weeks, and the victim’s hopes of acquiring the promised tender began to fade. Realisation struck hard as it became evident that the victim had been duped by an elaborate and heartless scam.
 
Mohd Azman said the promised job tender never materialised, leaving the victim bereft of both the tender and his hard-earned money.
 
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
 
In view of this, he urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with strangers offering job tenders through social media.
 
“Aside from that, they must also cross-verify any claims made by potential scammers with relevant agencies to ensure their authenticity.
 
“Most importantly, they should not make any form of payment to individuals who purport to offer job tenders without conducting thorough checks to ascertain the legitimacy of the tender,” he said.