Latest news with #SemakMule
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Johor man loses RM267,888 in Facebook investment scam
JOHOR BAHRU: A 57-year-old man lost RM267,888 after falling victim to an online investment scam advertised on Facebook. The victim lodged a police report at Pelangi Indah police station on July 21 after realising he had been deceived. Johor Bahru Selatan district police chief ACP Raub Selamat said the victim was lured by an investment ad on Facebook before contacting a woman named 'Olivia Leong' via WhatsApp. The suspect promised an 80% return on investment and instructed the victim to download an app and deal with a person called 'George'. The victim only discovered the scam when he attempted to withdraw his funds but was told to invest more. Investigations revealed he made nine transfers between July 4 and 17, totalling RM267,888. The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years' jail, whipping, and a fine. Police urge the public to verify company backgrounds, avoid sharing personal details, and refrain from downloading unverified apps. Those with fraud-related information can contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 or check the Semak Mule portal at - Bernama
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Unemployed man loses RM267,888 to stock scam found on Facebook
JOHOR BARU: A 57-year-old unemployed man lost nearly RM270,000 after falling prey to a bogus online stock investment scheme promising returns of up to 80 per cent in a short period. Johor Baru (South) police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the victim lodged a police report yesterday after he realised he had been cheated by a scammer posing as an investment agent. The victim claimed he responded to an investment advertisement on Facebook and was contacted on WhatsApp by a person who said she was an investment agent. The victim was persuaded to download a trading app and was instructed to deal with another man on transactions. Between July 4 and 17, the victim made nine online money transfers totalling RM267,888 to a company account. "The suspect kept urging the victim to invest more, even when he asked to withdraw his returns," Raub said today. After multiple failed attempts to withdraw his investment, both agents cut off all contact and locked him out of the platform. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction. Raub advised people not to fall for get-rich-quick promises, especially those promoted on social media platforms. "Always verify company backgrounds, never share personal information and avoid downloading suspicious apps." Channel information on scams to the National Scam Response Centre at 997 and check the Semak Mule portal at before you invest.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
JB man loses RM267,000 to investment scam
JOHOR BARU: A 57-year-old man here has lost more than RM267,000 to a bogus investment scheme that promised 80% returns within a short period. Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat said the unemployed victim lodged a police report on Monday (July 21), after realising he had been scammed by a syndicate posing as investment agents. 'The victim was lured by an investment advertisement on Facebook and later contacted an individual who gave her name as 'Olivia Leong' via WhatsApp. 'The suspect promised the victim up to 80% in returns and instructed him to download an application and communicate with another individual named George for transaction purposes,' he said in a statement on Tuesday (July 22). ACP Raub said the victim made nine bank transactions between July 4 and 17 amounting to RM267,888. 'The victim then realised he had been scammed when the suspect continued to ask for more money even as he tried to withdraw his 'profits'. 'The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. The offence carries a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction,' he added. ACP Raub also advised the public to always be cautious and not fall for investment schemes that promise lucrative returns on social media. 'Please remember to always check the background of the company offering the alleged investment, never reveal personal information, and avoid downloading unverified mobile apps," he added. He urged those with information related to scams to notify the National Scam Response Centre at 997 or check the bank account or phone numbers on the official Semak Mule portal.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Manager loses over RM260k in WhatsApp stock scam
JOHOR BARU: A company manager lost RM262,669, supposedly after falling victim to an online stock investment scam conducted through WhatsApp. Seri Alam police chief Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the police received a report on the incident yesterday after the 39-year-old victim realised he had been cheated. 'The victim said the incident began last April when he came across a stock investment advertisement on WhatsApp that promised lucrative returns within a short period,' he said in a statement, Bernama reported. 'The victim made 16 transactions into two different bank accounts between April 25 and July 4, amounting to a total of RM262,669.' He said the victim was later asked to make an additional payment purportedly for the withdrawal of investment profits, but no returns were received. He added that the victim realised he had been scammed after his efforts to recover the investment money failed. 'Initial investigations using the Semak Mule platform by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) found that one of the bank accounts used in the transactions had a prior police report linked to an investment fraud case,' he said. The police will also carry out additional investigations into the use of mule accounts and take appropriate action against the involved account holders. Supt Mohd Sohaimi urged the public to exercise caution with investment schemes that promise high returns in a short time and to verify the legitimacy of companies through the Securities Commission Malaysia and the Semak Mule portal before making any transactions. The public is also warned against sharing personal or banking information with unknown parties and to stay informed about commercial crime tactics via CCID's social media channels.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Elderly e-hailing driver loses RM301,300 in online investment scam
JOHOR BAHRU: An elderly e-hailing driver lost RM301,300 after falling victim to an online scheme that promised quick and lucrative returns through investments in foreign stocks. Seri Alam police chief Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the 67-year-old victim was first introduced to the fraudulent scheme in April by a woman he had just met. 'Believing the woman's promises, the victim made 11 transfers to four different bank accounts, amounting to RM301,300,' he said in a statement. However, he never received any returns. Instead, he was repeatedly asked to make additional payments, supposedly to facilitate the release of his profits. Realising he had been scammed when he could no longer reach the woman and failed to recover his investment, the victim lodged a police report on Monday. Mohd Sohaimi said preliminary checks using the Semak Mule platform by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department revealed that three of the bank accounts involved had been flagged in 27 previous police reports linked to investment scams. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment, caning and a fine upon conviction. He added that investigators are also looking into the existence of mule accounts under Section 424 of the Penal Code, which covers the use of accounts or payment instruments for criminal purposes. 'Upon conviction under Section 424, offenders face a fine of between RM10,000 and RM150,000 or imprisonment of three to 10 years,' he said. He advised the public to be wary of online investment schemes promising quick and high returns, especially those that appear overly easy or risk-free. 'The public is also urged to verify any investment opportunity with relevant authorities such as the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, or the Securities Commission to ensure its legitimacy,' he added. - Bernama
