A 39-year-old lecturer in Pahang was cheated of RM493,600 in a fake online investment scheme after 22 transactions to five bank accounts.
KUANTAN: A lecturer lost RM493,600 after being duped by a non-existent online investment scheme.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the 39-year-old woman received a call from a fake stock investment agent on September 16 last year.
The victim was added to a WhatsApp group and told to download an investment application via a provided link.
She subsequently made 22 money transfers to five different bank accounts, totalling RM493,600.
The funds came from her own savings and loans from family members.
On January 14, the victim was asked to pay an additional RM144,676 as a purported withdrawal tax.
She refused after becoming suspicious and later realised she had been cheated.
A police report was lodged following the discovery.
Yahaya advised the public to seek advice from the nearest police station before making any investments.
He also reminded people to verify bank account numbers via the link https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my/ before any transaction.
