KOTA SAMARAHAN: A boutique entrepreneur lost RM35,000 in a ‘mooncake scam’.
The unfortunate incident unfolded on Aug 9 when the victim placed an order for 969 sets of mooncakes through an individual who introduced himself as Kong, both on Facebook and through a phone call.
Kota Samarahan police chief DSP Brodie Brangka said the victim proceeded to deposit a sum of RM79,860.60 into the suspect’s bank account, expecting a smooth and straightforward transaction.
However, what should have been a simple exchange turned into a bitter experience.
“As of today, the victim only received 807 sets of mooncakes, amounting to RM44,860.60.
“Meanwhile, the remaining 162 sets valued at RM35,000, never arrived,” he said.
The victim reported the incident to the police on Sept 19.
In light of the scam, Brodie urged the public to exercise caution when making online purchases and advised them to verify the seller’s credibility and conduct a thorough research before making any payments.
To further assist victims of various cybercrimes, the public is encouraged to contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997, especially if they have recently fallen victim to scams such as phone scams, love scams, e-commerce fraud, non-existent loans, or any other fraudulent schemes involving money transfers to unfamiliar bank accounts or e-wallets.
