Police: RM750mil lost to bogus investment schemes in first half of 2025
Police noted the sharp increase, which is more than double the RM350 million lost during the same period last year.
A total of 4,368 cases were reported this year, involving losses of RM750,519,581, said Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa.
"This is a big increase compared to the 2,715 cases reported during the same period in 2024, which saw losses exceeding RM350 million," he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Worrying spike in commercial crimes for Sarawak with RM77.7 mln lost in first seven months
Mancha shows the commercial crime statistics with Sarawak CCID chief Supt Maria Rasid. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (Aug 1): Sarawak has recorded a worrying spike in commercial crime cases, with 2,256 incidents reported between January and July 30 this year. Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the reported cases involved losses amounting to RM77.7 million — an increase of 46.8 per cent compared to RM52.9 million in the same period last year. 'This equates to an average of around seven cases reported daily. 'If these trends are not curbed, total losses could exceed RM100 million by the end of the year, placing significant financial strain on victims and jeopardising household financial security in Sarawak,' he told a press conference here today. On scammers' modus operandi and tactics, Mancha said the fraudulent cases involved e-commerce scams, non-existent investment scams, money-lending scams, job scams, phone scams, as well as mule accounts. On the breakdown of victims, he said based on police data the majority were aged between 30 and 40 years (584), 18 and 29 (439), and 50 and above (267). 'Most of them consisted of those working in the private sector (497), followed by government servants (237), retirees (72), and the rest of them were students and those who are self-employed,' he said. He pointed out most of these cases were reported in urban areas. In terms of enforcement, Mancha said 867 suspects were arrested as of July, out of which 834 have been charged in court involving 827 investigation papers. 'Those prosecuted for mule accounts also increased to 832 individuals, compared to 639 people recorded last year,' he said. Based on an analysis of the cases, Mancha said the police identified key factors behind the public's vulnerability to scams, such as lack of awareness about how scammers operate, with many victims lured by promises of high investment returns within a short time. Panic and fear were also cited as major influences, particularly when scammers posed as authorities or bank representatives. 'In addition, many victims failed to verify the authenticity of phone numbers, account numbers, or suspicious links they received. 'Delayed reporting was another concern, with some victims feeling ashamed or embarrassed to admit they had been duped,' he said. He advised the public to exercise caution when confronted with offers or messages that appear too good to be true, and not to disclose their banking details to anyone. Phone numbers or bank accounts should be verified through the Whoscall app and the official Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Semak Mule portal. Family members are urged to educate elderly relatives and young people to be cautious of viral messages and unauthorised investment opportunities. Victims should also contact the National Scam Response Centre's (NSRC) 24-hour hotline on 997 should they fall victim to a scam. commercial crime Mancha Ata
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
Miri technician fined RM350 for acting as mule account holder
According to the facts of the case, the accused was found in possession of RM350 in his bank account which was suspected to be unlawfully obtained. – Photo by Jenifer Laeng MIRI (July 31): A technician was fined RM350 in default two weeks' imprisonment by the Magistrates' Court here today for acting as a mule account holder. Magistrate Ashok Linggam meted out the fine on Shahrin Nizam Arshad, 46, from Penang after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 37(1) of the Sarawak Minor Offences Ordinance 1958. According to the facts of the case, the accused was found in possession of RM350 in his bank account which was suspected to be unlawfully obtained. During the investigation, Shahrin failed to explain how the funds came into his possession. He committed the offence at 12.49pm on June 30 at a lot on Jalan Kampung Luak 4E, Kampung Luak Bay, Jalan Bakam here. In mitigation, the married father of two pleaded for leniency as he was a first-time offender. The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Luqman Hakim Sahrol Bahar, while the accused did not have legal representation.
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops nab foreign thieves targeting tourists in KL
Dang Wangi police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said the five suspects arrested were all foreigners, comprising four men and one woman. KUALA LUMPUR : Police have arrested a group of five foreigners known as 'Geng Magik' who are suspected of stealing money from tourists in the city via sleight of hand. Dang Wangi police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said the arrests of the four men and one woman followed two recent cases of tourists being approached and asked to show their foreign currencies to the suspects. Previously, 12 other cases had also been reported, with some occurring last year. '(The suspects) would usually target those who are alone and avoid areas with CCTV coverage. They would approach the tourists and start chatting with them to get them to lower their guard,' he said at a press conference here. He said the first case occurred near Masjid Negara where a tourist was approached by a foreign couple to help take their picture. The suspects then asked the tourist to show them some of her foreign currencies, which they took for a closer look before returning the money to her. The victim later realised that about US$600 in her handbag had gone missing, and suspected that the couple had stolen the money. The victim lodged a police report on July 18, leading to the arrest of three men and one woman, all foreigners, around Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur. 'Police seized foreign currencies from countries in Europe, South Asia, Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, estimated to be worth RM16,998.16,' Sulizmie added. The second case occurred in Jalan Bukit Bintang on July 24, with four foreign men asking a male tourist to show them his foreign currencies. The victim lost around US$500 and RM650. A police operation was conducted on the same day which led to the arrest of a foreigner in his 20s in Bukit Bintang. Police seized various foreign currencies worth about RM350. Sulizmie said all five suspects claimed to have lost their passports. He said they had entered the country illegally through the Bukit Kayu Hitam entry point in Kedah. The suspects were remanded for four days and then detained for a further 14 days under the Immigration Act 1959/63. 'We advise the public, tourists and locals alike, to exercise caution (when approached by strangers) to avoid becoming victims of such ploys,' he said.
