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AN accounts clerk has lost RM527,681.17 of her life savings to a fraudulent investment scheme, after being lured by promises of high returns from a betting-based platform.
Johor Bahru South police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the 46-year-old victim was contacted on 12 June by a man who offered her an investment opportunity with returns of up to five per cent on her capital.
“She received a call at about 2.30pm while in Taman Desa Tebrau. The caller introduced an investment involving betting games,” said Raub in a statement.
Tempted by the offer, the woman registered via a link provided by the caller and transferred an initial sum of RM10,000. She later received a supposed profit of RM1,000 after participating in the games twice.
“Between 14 July and 4 September, the victim made multiple transfers totalling RM527,681.17 into nine different accounts,” said Raub.
After repeated demands for additional payments under the pretext of processing her profits, she eventually realised she had been duped and lodged a police report on 12 September.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the funds came entirely from the victim’s personal savings.
A check on the suspect’s phone number via the Commercial Crime Investigation System (CCIS) revealed no prior records of fraud, but the number is suspected to have been misused for criminal purposes.
Police are now working to trace the suspects, including retrieving bank account details, recording statements from banks, verifying telco records, and identifying the phone number’s owner.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Johor Bahru South police have urged the public to remain cautious of investment offers received through social media or messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.
“Always verify through the official ‘Semak Mule’ portal at [https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my](https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my) before making any transactions,” Raub advised.
The public is also reminded not to be easily swayed by promises of high returns in a short period and to promptly contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via 997 to report any suspected scam activity. - September 14, 2025