KUCHING: Sarawak police have taken decisive action by forming a task force to investigate non-existent house construction scams plaguing the state.
Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the scam has inflicted losses amounting to RM3 million on innocent victims in the state.
It is allegedly done by a real estate company based in the state which has branches in Malaya.
So far two individuals associated with the case have been charged in March by the Miri Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) thus, setting the stage for a trial scheduled for November in Miri Court.
The nefarious operations of the real estate company date back to 2019 when it enticed unsuspecting victims with three construction and investment schemes promoted on Facebook.
“The first scheme promises to construct a house on one’s own land, the second offers to locate a suitable site and oversee the construction for the buyers, while the third offers an investment scheme with promised attractive returns.
“Victims lured by these schemes would meet with the suspects, who assured them of finding reputable developers and contractors to bring their dreams to life.
“Payments were then transferred into the company’s bank account. However, the victims realised that they had been cheated when the promised construction work never materialised,” he said.
Mohd Azman issued a statement following a courtesy visit from Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim along with representatives of the scam victims who submitted letters and statements yesterday (Sept 18).
In light of these distressing developments, the public are urged to exercise caution when encountering house construction offers on social media platforms.
He stressed the importance of verifying the legitimacy of such offers and promptly notifying partners, friends, or family members about any suspicious solicitations.
Furthermore, Mohd Azman advised against placing blind trust in unknown individuals or companies promoting house construction services online and cautioned against making any financial transactions with them.
