BINTULU: A director of a local business who was duped by an elaborate online scam ended up losing RM120,000 in the process.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Manch Ata said that the victim who is in his early 60s received a WhatsApp message in early January from an unknown individual at a government department in Miri, including official documents outlining a Malaysian government order.
“The order detailed the acquisition of polycarbonate natural anodized aluminium sliding windows for upgrading works at a government office in Niah.
“The scam artist, masquerading as a government official, insisted that the specified items must bear the ‘Jeng Cheng’ brand and could only be procured from a designated supplier in Miri city,” he said.
“Falling into the trap, the victim reached out to the provided phone number, engaging with an unknown individual claiming to be the supplier of the specified polycarbonate ‘Jeng Cheng’ products,” Mancha said.
In a series of three online money transfer transactions, totalling RM120,000, the victim unknowingly remitted the money into an unknown individual’s bank account in mid-January, ostensibly for the purchase of the specified polycarbonate materials.
It was only after receiving neither the promised goods nor the government order that the victim realised the extent of the deception.
Seeking clarity, the victim reached out to the government department, only to receive confirmation that they had no association with the reported office upgrading works.
The director promptly filed a police report, prompting an investigation by police.
