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A FEMALE civil servant has lost almost RM100,000 after falling victim to two separate online investment scams within just two weeks, in a case police say highlights the growing sophistication of fraudulent schemes promoted through social media platforms.
Kuala Terengganu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said the 38-year-old woman lodged a police report at the Kuala Terengganu police station at approximately 2.50pm yesterday after realising she had been deceived.
Investigators said the victim first encountered an investment advertisement on Telegram on May 1 while at her home in the district.
According to Azli, the woman expressed interest in joining an investment scheme known as “Webull”, allegedly managed by an individual identifying himself as Encik Khalid Abd Hamid.
“The victim was then given an explanation regarding the investment and was promised lucrative returns within six hours after the investment was made.
“The victim then selected a starter package worth RM1,000. After making the first payment, the victim was asked to make several additional payments for various reasons, supposedly to enable the profits to be withdrawn,” he said.
Police said the victim subsequently carried out 12 separate transactions to four different bank accounts amounting to RM48,965 between May 1 and May 7.
Despite suffering substantial losses, the woman was again targeted days later through another Telegram-based investment scheme known as “Sunway Trade”.
Azli said the second operation promised returns within just 30 minutes, convincing the victim to continue transferring money in the hope of recovering profits.
“With promises of profits within 30 minutes, the victim then carried out several transactions to different bank accounts until she suffered additional losses amounting to RM50,311.
“After that, the victim was still asked to make another payment of RM38,527, but she did not do so because she began to suspect that she had been cheated. In this case, the transactions were carried out between May 11 and May 13,” he said.
Police said all dealings were conducted entirely online and the victim never met any individuals linked to the schemes in person.
The funds used in the transactions came from the victim’s personal savings as well as proceeds obtained from pawning her jewellery.
Azli said the victim never received any returns or profits from either investment before deciding to file a police report.
“As a result of being deceived, the victim suffered losses amounting to RM99,276 and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” he said. - May 15, 2026
