Police Identify Owners Of Bank Accounts In Sarikei Online Scam

SARIKEI, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Police have identified four owners of bank accounts used for money transfers involving two online fraud cases reported in the district recently and are actively tracking them down.

Sarikei district police chief Supt Aswandy Anis said all the accounts were registered in the names of companies that do not operate in Sarikei and so far no arrests have been made.

He said the cases were being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, while account owners who allowed their accounts to be used by other parties would be charged under Section 424C(1) of the Penal Code (Amendment 2024).

According to him, one case involved a contractor in his 50s who lost about RM460,000 after being duped by a non-existent online investment offer earlier this month.

“The latest case involves a private pharmacy officer in his 30s who suffered a loss of about RM15,000 after being deceived by a tender offer to supply medical equipment in the Sarikei district,” he said in a statement today.

He said the victim lodged a police report yesterday after realising he had been deceived when the suspect failed to contact him once the payment was made.

The victim was contacted by a man who posed as an officer from the Sarawak Social Welfare Department and offered the tender.

“The victim made several money transfer transactions to two different bank accounts, but did not receive the equipment as promised before his phone line was blocked,” he said.

-- BERNAMA