Civil servant in Miri loses RM1.1 mln to suspected online investment scam
Her doubts began when she was unable to withdraw the promised profits. – Bernama photo
MIRI (June 26): A civil servant in Miri has lost RM1.1 million after allegedly falling victim to a non-existent online investment scheme.
In a statement today, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the woman, in her 30s, lodged a police report recently after realising she had been allegedly scammed by an individual impersonating an investment representative.
The incident began in early December 2024, when the victim was contacted by the suspect, who offered what appeared to be a lucrative investment opportunity.
She was instructed to download an app via a provided link and was promised high returns within a short period.
Trusting the scheme, she transferred money in stages into a bank account given by the suspect, amounting to around RM1.1 million in total.
Her doubts began when she was unable to withdraw the promised profits.
Despite this, the suspect continued to demand additional payments, claiming they were necessary to process the withdrawal.
'At the time the police report was lodged, the victim had not received any of the promised returns,' Mancha said.
Authorities say the case underscores the growing threat of online investment scams, particularly those targeting individuals seeking quick financial returns.
Mancha advised the public to verify the legitimacy of any investment platform through official channels such as Bank Negara Malaysia at https://www.bnm.gov.my and the Securities Commission Malaysia at https://www.sc.com.my before committing any funds.
'Anyone who has recently transferred money to suspicious accounts or e-wallets is advised to contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) by dialling 997,' he said.
He also recommended using scam-identifying tools like the Whoscall app, which cross-references phone numbers against the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) database.
'Phone numbers listed in the department's 'Semak Mule' system are flagged automatically through the app,' said Mancha.
As an additional safeguard, the public can verify suspicious bank account numbers or telephone lines via the police's Semak Mule portal at semakmule.rmp.gov.my, or check the credibility of investment companies using the Investment Checker tool provided by the Securities Commission.
To stay informed about the latest scam tactics, the public are encouraged to follow JSJK PDRM and Cyber Crime Alert RMP on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. civil servant Mancha Ata miri online investment scam
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
22 minutes ago
- Barnama
Improvements In Public Sector Auditing Among Main Agenda At WGFA Meeting
GEORGE TOWN, June 26 (Bernama) -- Continuous improvement in public sector auditing is among the main agenda to be discussed at the ongoing inaugural meeting of the Working Group on Follow-up Audit (WGFA) here. In a statement, the National Audit Department said the two-day meeting, chaired by Malaysia, marks the first gathering of the newly established WGFA under the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Other key agenda items include the finalisation of the Terms of Reference for the WGFA, which will serve as a guiding framework for the working group's direction and operations, aimed at enhancing accountability and promoting continuous improvement in public sector auditing. bootstrap slideshow Participants will also share best practices in audit follow-up procedures, with Malaysia presenting its Auditor-General Dashboard, which tracks all issues raised in the Auditor-General's Reports and ensures active monitoring until they are fully resolved. 'As of 2024, a total of RM157.73 million in public funds have been recovered as a result of audit follow-ups conducted at the federal and state levels,' the statement noted. Looking ahead, the statement said the WGFA 2025-2028 Work Plan includes long-term initiatives to develop Best Practice Guidelines for audit follow-ups, in collaboration with INTOSAI member countries. The group will also explore the need for specialised training and capacity-building programmes to enhance the quality and impact of follow-up audits in each member country. Malaysia's Auditor-General Datuk Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi presided over the meeting, which gathered 71 participants from 43 Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) around the world. In her opening remarks as Chair of the INTOSAI WGFA, Wan Suraya emphasised that Malaysia's leadership of the group reflects the global commitment to a dynamic, structured, and high-impact collaborative audit framework.
Barnama
23 minutes ago
- Barnama
'Yoe Gomen Gang' Busted After Targeting Schools, Govt Offices For Cash
MELAKA, June 26 (Bernama) -- Melaka police have busted the 'Yoe Gomen Gang' after eight cases of breaking into schools and government offices in the Melaka Tengah district since April, with the arrest of three members recently. Melaka Tengah police chief ACP Christopher Patit said all the men, aged 35, 36 and 40, were arrested in a raid on a resort condominium in Tanjung Kling at about 1.50 am on June 21. He said all the suspects, who are unemployed, targeted school offices, district education offices and several other government offices to steal cash found on the premises, involving a loss of RM9,200. "The modus operandi of the Yoe Gomen Gang is to break into the premises involved between 1 am and 4.30 am by prying open the office doors, usually the backdoor, using a screwdriver. "Based on initial investigations and the suspects' confession, six of the eight cases committed by the 'Yoe Gomen Gang' were school offices while the other two were other government offices," he said at a press conference here today. He said the gang of burglars was also involved in two similar cases in the Alor Gajah and Jasin districts (one each) as well as one case each outside Melaka, in Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur. He said the stolen money was used to pay down payment for motorcycles which were then used to commit the crimes. Christopher said a check of the criminal records of the gang leader, known as Yoe, found that the suspect had 27 prior records, with 24 under Section 457 of the Penal Code for breaking, entering and theft. He said another gang member known as Fadil, 36, has 15 criminal records under Section 457 of the Penal Code besides two drug cases while his 40-year-old brother known as Awe has six criminal records including one case of break-in and theft.
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
Anwar: Only positive reforms can safeguard nation's future
Anwar says the leaders and institutions need to commit to meaningful change to reverse societal decline and instil values rooted in justice and integrity. – Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (June 26): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reiterated that only positive reforms can ensure the nation's social stability, economic resilience and good governance. Delivering the keynote address at the Asean Symposium 2025 here today, Anwar said the leaders and institutions need to commit to meaningful change to reverse societal decline and instil values rooted in justice and integrity. 'For the growth, we use it for the benefit of our society and mankind. We are grounded with idealism, therefore strong values and ethics. But one, two, three generations passed, and then we find this degradation of ethical values and principles. 'We have lost that idealism. Those in power, we want to emerge well. Those elites, for whatever reasons, either support one side or are obsessed with a particular value or interest, disregarding the totality and the complexity of the economy,' he said. The one-day symposium themed 'Anchoring Asean's Future in Shared Wisdom: Empowering Communities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Civilisation' gathered policymakers, civil society leaders, academics and youth representatives from across the Asean region to deliberate on building a shared, inclusive future for the region. Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) deputy chairman Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohd Yusof Othman. Anwar said that positive reforms must begin with moral clarity and political will, particularly in tackling corruption and strengthening institutions. He said that while Malaysia remains a multiracial and multireligious society, with Islam as the religion of the Federation and Muslims forming around 60 per cent of the population, a shared understanding and mutual respect among all communities is critical. Prime Minister also emphasised that economic empowerment remains fundamental, and all necessary efforts must be taken to drive growth and development, including attracting domestic and foreign direct investments. However, he said, while economic growth and attracting investments are important, they do not represent the whole picture. 'Economic empowerment is for a cause. That is why we talk about cultural empowerment,' he said. – Bernama
