Seremban man loses RM1.3mil of savings and firm's money to investment scam

Source: The Star

SEREMBAN: A company director here lost not only his savings but also money belonging to his firm, totalling some RM1.3mil, in an online investment scam.

Seremban OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Hatta Che Din said the 45-year-old victim lodged a report on Monday (June 11) upon learning that he had been conned.

"The victim's troubles started when he began communicating with a stranger on WhatsApp.

"After he was convinced to invest in an online investment scheme, the victim transferred money into several accounts via 16 transactions," he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 12).

ACP Mohamad Hatta said the victim transferred the money over a month, with the first transfer made on April 29.

The case was being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.

ACP Mohamad Hatta reminded the public to be cautious whenever they were asked to invest in online schemes.

He urged them to check with the authorities, including the police, by calling the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-2610 1559 or 03-2610 1599.

He said since the beginning of the year, Seremban district police have opened 55 investigation papers related to such cases.

"The losses reported totalled almost RM4.38mil," he said.

Police had also arrested and charged 23 individuals in court for cheating offences so far this year, he added.