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Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Borneo Post
Two mechanics lose over RM86,000 in separate scam cases in Miri
Photo for illustration purposes only. — Photo by Thallen Merlin/Pexels MIRI (July 28): Two local mechanics lost RM79,000 and RM7,000 respectively in two separate scam cases reported here on Sunday (July 27). Miri district police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said in the first case, a man in his 30s received a phone call on July 24 from an individual claiming to be from the Perlis state police headquarters, alleging that his name had been linked to a money laundering syndicate. 'The victim's call was subsequently redirected to a man who introduced himself as a police officer from the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters. The suspect then instructed the victim to withdraw money from his account and transfer it to a third-party account provided by the suspect,' he said in a statement today. Mohd Farhan said the victim only realised he had been duped after becoming suspicious of the suspect's demands, prompting him to lodge a police report. 'The total loss incurred by the victim is estimated at RM79,000,' he added. In the second case, the victim, in his 20s, had come across a Facebook post on July 26 by an individual named 'Yen Ni' advertising cheap vehicles repossessed by banks. 'The victim was interested and initiated contact with the suspect via Facebook Marketplace, before further communication took place through WhatsApp,' said Mohd Farhan. He said the suspect, who claimed to be a representative of Sabrina Motor Group in Bintulu, later sent the victim a website link ( which displayed images of a black 2016 Toyota Harrier. 'The victim expressed interest in purchasing the vehicle and was asked to make a deposit and cover the costs of ownership transfer,' he said. However, the victim became suspicious when asked to make further payments for unreasonable purposes and realised he had been scammed. Mohd Farhan said the victim suffered a loss of RM7,000 in the incident. Both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. He advised the public to remain vigilant and not to trust advertisements that promise high returns or deals that seem too good to be true. Members of the public are urged to verify the legitimacy of any investment or transaction through official channels such as Bank Negara Malaysia's Financial Consumer Alert List ( and the Securities Commission Malaysia's Investor Alert List ( 'If you have just made a fund transfer to a mule account or scam syndicate, contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) immediately by dialling 997,' he added. As an additional safeguard, the public is reminded that they can check suspicious phone numbers and bank accounts using the Royal Malaysia Police's 'Check Scammers CCID' portal via before conducting any financial transactions. To stay updated on the latest scam tactics, the public is encouraged to follow JSJK PDRM and Cyber Crime Alert RMP on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. crime mechanic Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah scam
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Senior exec in Bintulu loses RM600,000 in online investment scam
Photo for illustration purposes only. — Photo by Thallen Merlin/Pexels BINTULU (July 5): A senior company executive in his 60s has fallen victim to an online investment scam, suffering losses amounting to approximately RM600,000, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata. He said the victim lodged a police report after realising he had been duped by a fraudulent investment scheme that began in early March this year. 'The victim, while at home, came across an online advertisement promoting a foreign currency investment opportunity, purportedly linked to an established financial institution,' Mancha said in a statement yesterday. Upon clicking the link, the victim was contacted by an individual claiming to represent JP Morgan. The suspect instructed the victim to download an application via a provided link and guided him through the process of investing via what appeared to be a legitimate platform. 'Over a period of time, the victim made several transactions totalling about RM600,000 into various bank accounts supplied by the suspect,' Mancha said. The scam came to light when the suspect repeatedly requested additional payments, claiming they were necessary to release the investment returns. Suspicious of the continuous demands, the victim eventually realised he had been scammed. To date, the victim has only managed to recover RM441 from the so-called investment. Mancha urged the public to exercise caution when encountering investment opportunities online, especially those promoted through unsolicited links or messages. 'Do not be easily influenced by investment offers advertised on social media or unfamiliar websites. Always conduct background checks and verify the legitimacy of the company or platform before making any financial commitment,' he advised. He encouraged the public to utilise tools such as the Whoscall mobile application available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store to screen unknown calls and reduce exposure to scam-related risks. Mancha also advised the public to check the status of any investment company or website via the official portals of Bank Negara Malaysia ( BNM Telelink: 1-300-88-5465) or the Securities Commission Malaysia ( tel: 03-6204 8999). 'For individuals who have just made a transaction to a suspected scam account or e-wallet, it is critical to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via the 997 hotline,' he added. The case is currently under investigation.
