Latest news with #370
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Engineer loses over RM336,000 in phone scam
GEORGE TOWN: A 35-year-old engineer has fallen victim to a phone scam, losing a staggering RM336,760 in a fraud that spanned several weeks. Southwest District police confirmed receiving a police report on the case. Police have opened an investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which deals with cheating. State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said, according to the engineer's report, the victim's ordeal began on March 25, when the engineer received a suspicious phone call while at work in a factory in Bayan Lepas. The victim claimed the caller had introduced himself as a representative from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and allegedly told the engineer that the victim's phone number had been linked to 33 police reports involving criminal activities. The call was then "transferred" to an individual claiming to be a police officer from the Sarawak contingent police headquarters (IPK Sarawak). "The impersonator accused the engineer of involvement in money laundering and was instructed to transfer funds to multiple bank accounts for the purposes of an 'investigation'. "To gain the engineer's trust, the suspect falsely promised that the money would be returned once the investigation was completed. "The victim was also threatened with an arrest warrant should the engineer fail to comply. Frightened and believing the claims to be true, the victim made multiple online transfers and cash deposits into 14 different bank accounts over the course of nearly three months, from March 25 to June 9. The total amount transferred was RM336,760," he said in a statement today. Hamzah said the scam only came to light when the scammer continued to demand additional payments. The engineer then lodged a police report. The latest incident came less than 24 hours after it was reported that police had launched investigations into separate cases of online investment fraud that cost two retirees a combined total of RM1,148,370, highlighting the growing threat of financial scams targeting unsuspecting victims via social media platforms.
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Two retirees lose over RM1.1 million in separate online investment scams
SEBERANG PRAI: Police have launched investigations into two separate cases of online investment fraud that cost two retirees a combined total of RM1,148,370, highlighting the growing threat of financial scams targeting unsuspecting victims via social media platforms. State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in the first case, a 55-year-old retiree of a private company in Prai lodged a report with the Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters after being duped by an investment scheme operated by a company known as Freeman Ltd. Hamzah said that based on the victim's report, he came across an advertisement on Facebook in early April and was lured by promises of high returns - seven per cent on each investment within a short period. "Communicating with the female suspect via WhatsApp, the victim was instructed to download the Freeman Ltd app, register as a member, and invest through the platform. "Over a little more than a month, from April 19 to May 26, he made 22 money transfer transactions totalling RM827,120 to six different company bank accounts," he said in a statement tonight. Hamzah said the victim only realised he had been scammed when he was unable to withdraw his supposed profits, which the app showed as RM23.2 million. A police report was subsequently filed. In a separate but similar case, the Seberang Prai Utara district police received a report from a 56-year-old retired factory technician who lost RM321,250 in an online scam linked to a company called Demax Global. Hamzah said that according to the victim's report, he came across an investment advertisement on Instagram in December last year, offering a 30 per cent return within three months. "The victim also communicated with a female suspect via WhatsApp and was instructed to download the Demax Global app to begin investing. "On March 21 this year, he made his first investment of RM20,000 and, within a few months, received a return of RM14,150, which encouraged him to continue investing. "Between March 27 and June 3, he made 11 transactions into four different bank accounts linked to the scheme. "The scam came to light when the victim was unable to withdraw the displayed profits of RM280,000. When he attempted to make a withdrawal, the suspect demanded a withdrawal fee of RM120,000. "The victim proposed that the fee be deducted from his account balance, but the suspect refused and insisted that the payment be made separately," he added. Realising he had been deceived, Hamzah said the victim lodged a police report. Both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which deals with cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Is it so difficult to be patriotic?' Khurshid after remarks backing end of Article 370
Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday said it was 'distressing' that while he is abroad on a 'mission against terrorism', people 'at home' are 'calculating political allegiances'. The Congress leader's comments come days after he backed the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to J&K, prompting the BJP to target his party that holds a nuanced position on the issue. When on mission against terrorism, to carry India's message to the world, it's distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?' Khurshid said in a post on X during a visit to Kuala Lumpur as part of an all-party delegation to rally support for India's war against terror emanating from Pakistan. He later told news agency ANI: 'People keep saying, 'what are you doing in a delegation where there are people from BJP. What are you doing there?' What are we doing here? We are doing here is, what is needed for the country. No matter which party you are from, today what is needed is a single voice to speak in favour of the nation and that is what we are doing here.' I think when I say, is it so difficult to be patriot? — that is the question that has to be asked of those who are putting out tweets and saying things that I think I believe are not very encouraging when you want to do something for the nation,' he said. The delegation of which Khurshid is a member is led by JD(U)'s Sanjay Kumar Jha and includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah and Hemang Joshi; TMC's Abhishek Banerjee and CPI (M)'s John Brittas. It has been tasked with visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Singapore. In Jakarta Friday, Khurshid told think tanks and academia: 'Kashmir had a major, major problem for a long time. Much of that was reflected in the thinking of the government in an Article called 370 of the Constitution, which somehow gave the impression that it (Kashmir) was separate from the rest of the country. Article 370 was abrogated, finally put to an end, because so much time had passed. Subsequently, there was an election and 65% participation. There is an elected government in Kashmir today, and therefore, for people to want to undo everything that has happened, the prosperity that has come to Kashmir, it is very unfortunate. It will give a setback to anybody.' Following Khurshid's remarks, while the Congress refused to comment, BJP leaders targeted the party, with Puri MP Sambit Patra saying somebody should relay the comments to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said he 'hopes the Congress does not designate Salman Khurshid as 'super pravakta (super spokesperson)' after he has busted their narrative on 370'. It was a dig at Congress spokesperson Udit Raj who recently said party MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading one of the delegations, should be designated by the BJP as a 'super spokesperson'. 'Will Rahul Gandhi admit Article 370 was his family blunder? Even Salman Khurshid has now lauded its removal,' said Poonawala.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
Op Thunder: Hookah parlours raided at 3 locations, 36 held
Nagpur: In a major crackdown on illegal hookah parlours across the city, the city police raided three locations, arrested 36 individuals and seized material worth Rs1.50 lakh under 'Operation Thunder' which continued on Saturday past midnight. CP Ravinder Singal has also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to all illegal hookah parlours, e-cigarette shops and other illicit operations to cease activities immediately or face severe consequences, including long-term closure, sealing of premises, and seizures. The raids, spearheaded by the anti-narcotics cell under senior inspector Gajanan Gulhane, were executed in collaboration with Sitabuldi and Ambazari police stations. The first raid targeted a café and lounge in Gokulpeth, under Sitabuldi police station jurisdiction, where 28 individuals were caught using hookah. The police seized 14 hookah pots, hookah flavours, cylinders, pipes and other material valued at Rs30,000. The second raid was conducted at a café near Laxmi Bhuvan Chowk, under Ambazari police limits, where six individuals were apprehended. The cops confiscated 15 hookah pots, 13 chillums, 22 pipes, hookah flavours, a laptop and other items, in all worth Rs72,370. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo In the raid at another café near Laxmi Bhuvan Chowk, one of its owners and one worker were detained. Items seized included 17 hookah pots, 33 pipes, hookah flavours, a laptop and other material valued at Rs47,060. CP Singal told The Times of India, "All illegal hookah parlours, shady joints or establishments offering prohibited services or selling banned items like e-cigarettes and flavoured tobacco must shut down within the next 24 hours. If our teams raid these premises after this deadline, they will face severe actions, including long-term closures and sealing of properties. Last week, crime branch teams raided 17 locations across Nagpur in a crackdown on illegal storage, supply and sale of imported e-cigarettes, prohibited flavoured tobacco and other banned substances. The operation, conducted under the guidance of CP and DCP (crime) Rahul Maknikar, led to the seizure of material worth over Rs43 lakh. Offences were registered against 26 individuals across 13 police stations. The Nagpur police have urged citizens to report any illegal hookah parlours, drug sales or consumption, assuring that identity of the informant will be kept confidential. "We are committed to making Nagpur a safer city. Public cooperation is vital in this fight against illegal activities," said a police spokesperson.
News18
01-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Won't Suggest Retaliation…': Farooq Abdullah Says India Should 'Finish Terrorism' After Pahalgam Attack
Last Updated: While NC chief Farooq Abdullah earlier voiced support for PM Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan, he said he will not suggest a retaliation but a "befitting response" National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said India's response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam should be to 'finish terrorism forever". While Abdullah earlier voiced support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan in view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam attack, he said he will not suggest a retaliation as such but a 'befitting response". 'I am not going to suggest retaliation. I just want them to give a befitting response so that terrorism is finished forever," he told CNN-News18. 'Pahelgam was a disaster. Innocent people who had nothing to do with anything were killed." Terrorists killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley on April 22, in what can be called one of the deadliest strikes in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack. He questioned the security apparatus in the Valley and demanded immediate statehood, a stand not taken by his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had said he will not use the tragedy as an opportunity for this. He expressed surprise that the perpetrators had not been caught. 'We have the government but security is not under us. When (Article) 370 was there, in 1996 we made a unified command. Many opposed, but we made it together and it was beautifully done, so well that it was taken to Manipur," he said. The NC chief further said the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) is not elected, but the CM is. 'The L-G will be gone, but we will stay here. I will ask today, where was the security? We demand statehood to be given immediately. I am surprised the perpetrators have not been caught yet," he said. He further pointed out while the Prime Minister has authorised the three service chiefs to retaliate in any appropriate manner, no decision can be taken without the PM, home minister and defence minister. 'The PM has given full authority to the three forces. But, no decision can be taken without the PM, HM (home minister) and defence minister. They can't leave the responsibility to others," he added. First Published: May 01, 2025, 16:08 IST
