SIBU: Captivated by a job advertisement on Facebook, a photographer in her 20s from Sibu embarked on what seemed like a promising opportunity, only to find herself parting with her hard-earned savings of RM26,780.
Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili said she came across an enticing part-time job opportunity on Facebook on Aug 13 and intrigued by the job, she promptly reached out for more information by phone.
“She was instructed to download a TikTok application to supposedly secure a commission of RM30.
“Subsequently, she was directed to install an eBay application, with the promise that it was essential to begin the assigned tasks.
“These tasks involved placing orders for various products and making payments within a specified time frame, all under the supervision of the scammers orchestrating the scheme,” Zulkipli said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 20).
Enthusiastic about the prospect, the victim made online payments for 15 transactions totalling RM26,780 to seven different bank accounts between Aug 13 and Aug 14.
“The suspects assured her that she would receive a 10 per cent commission for each of these transactions.
“However, by the time of reporting, the victim had not received any of the promised commissions and realised she had been deceived,” he added.
Zulkipli said that the case is now under investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which pertains to cheating.
In light of this incident, the public has been urged to exercise caution and skepticism when encountering lucrative job offers on social media platforms.
“People are advised to thoroughly investigate and verify the backgrounds of companies or agencies before committing to any job offers,” he advised.
Individuals can use the online verification service provided by the CCID through their website, http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule/, to verify suspicious bank accounts and phone numbers.
For further guidance and information, the public can contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 and follow the official Facebook pages of @CyberCrimeAlertRMP and @JSJKPDRM.
