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A 57-YEAR-OLD man has lost RM267,888 after falling victim to an online investment scam that was advertised via Facebook, according to Johor Bahru Selatan police.
District police chief ACP Raub Selamat said the victim lodged a report at the Pelangi Indah police station on 21 July, after discovering that he had been deceived by an individual posing as an investment agent.
“Initial investigations revealed that the victim was enticed by an investment advertisement on Facebook and later contacted a woman who introduced herself as ‘Olivia Leong’ via WhatsApp,” said Raub in a statement.
The suspect promised the man returns of up to 80 per cent within a short timeframe. The victim was instructed to download an application and liaise with another individual named ‘George’ to facilitate transactions.
The deception came to light when the victim attempted to withdraw his ‘investment’, only to be told he needed to deposit more money. Between 4 and 17 July, he made nine transfers amounting to RM267,888.
The case is now being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property — an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine.
Raub advised the public not to fall for “extraordinary promises of investment returns” and to exercise caution when engaging with unknown parties on social media.
“Check the company’s background first; do not provide personal information; and avoid downloading unauthorised applications,” he said. He also urged anyone with information on scam activities to contact the National Scam Response Centre at 997 or consult the Semak Mule portal at [https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my](https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my).
In a related development, Terengganu police recorded 940 cases of online fraud involving RM17.9 million in losses between January and June this year.
State police chief Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairuddin said phone scams alone accounted for RM7.68 million in losses, followed by fraudulent investment schemes (RM5.47 million), online purchase frauds (RM1.95 million), and parcel scams (RM1.57 million).
Other recorded scams included unauthorised account withdrawals (RM501,583), loan scams (RM470,908), romance scams (RM260,200), and illegal moneylending frauds (RM2,960).
Khairi also highlighted a recent case involving a former oil and gas sector employee who lost RM892,000 to a phone scam. The 56-year-old was contacted on 31 December by fraudsters posing as Shopee representatives and police officers, accusing him of involvement in money laundering and drug trafficking.
“Panicked by the accusation, the victim made 10 transactions to seven separate accounts between 7 January and 10 February, using his retirement funds and EPF savings in an attempt to ‘clear’ his name,” said Khairi.
He reiterated the need for continued public vigilance, noting that scam syndicates do not discriminate based on age or background. - July 22, 2025
