Retiree In Miri Loses Nearly RM500,000 To Online Investment Scam

MIRI, July 9 (Bernama) -- A private sector retiree here lost nearly RM500,000 after falling victim to a non-existent online investment scam.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the local man, in his 60s, recently lodged a police report regarding the incident.

The victim reportedly began communicating with a suspect, who posed as an investment group supervisor from “Aleesya Stock Trading”, through an advertisement on Facebook in mid-May.

“Enticed by the investment promises, the victim clicked on the advertisement link and was then added to a WhatsApp group called ‘Aleesya Stock Trading’,” he said in a statement today.

Deceived by the scheme, the victim made several bank transfers to accounts provided by the suspect, amounting to about RM500,000 in total.

“The victim realised he had been scammed when the suspect kept requesting additional payments in order to withdraw the supposed investment profits. As of the time the report was lodged, the victim had only received about RM65,000 in returns,” the statement added.

Police have advised the public not to easily believe investment offers advertised on social media without verifying their legitimacy.

-- BERNAMA