Two lose RM83,400 to bogus cop, fake job scam in separate cases

New Straits Times

13-05-2025

TANGKAK: Two people lost a total of RM83,400 in separate cheating cases involving a police impersonator and a bogus job offer via Telegram.
Police reports were lodged yesterday by a 33-year-old man tricked by a caller impersonating a police officer, and a foreign woman, who fell for a fake remote job offer via Telegram.
District police chief Superintendent Roslan Mohd Talib said the man told police he had received a call from a man, claiming to be a police officer, who threatened him with legal action for alleged involvement in criminal activities.
Roslan said that between February to April, the 33-year-old man made 12 online bank transfers amounting to RM58,900 into five bank accounts provided by the scammer.
He made the cash transfers purportedly to secure his savings from being frozen during "investigations".
In the second case, a 34-year-old Cambodian woman was offered a remote job with popular online retailer Shein by a caller, Roslan said.
She was promised RM2.50 per completed task. However, she was told to make payments in advance to secure the job.
The woman transferred RM24,500 in six online cash transactions to three bank accounts. However, when the caller could not be contacted, she realised that she had been cheated.
Roslan said both cases were being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, caning, and a fine upon conviction.
He urged the public to remain vigilant, particularly over suspicious calls claiming to be from enforcement agencies and job offers that seem too good to be true.
"Verify any investment or job opportunity before committing, and follow updates on scam tactics via the Commercial Crime Investigation Department's social media platforms," he said, adding that victims should immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre via the 997 hotline to prevent further financial loss.