SIBU: A local labourer fell victim to an online part-time job scam, resulting in a devastating loss of RM14,398.
The victim made a police report on yesterday (May 22), according to a statement by Sibu OCPD ACP Zulkipli Suhaili.
The incident unfolded when the labourer, in his 20s, received an enticing message from an unknown individual on Telegram.
The message offered an alluring opportunity for an online part-time job that involved simply liking YouTube videos.
“Intrigued by the seemingly effortless offer, the labourer engaged in further communication with the suspect, who provided a list of six tasks to be completed.
“The suspect promised significant commissions for successfully accomplishing each assignment, along with a 10 per cent commission for each payment made,” said ACP Zulkipli.
“Between May 15 and May 20, the labourer diligently completed the tasks and transferred payments totalling RM14,398 across six transactions into five different bank accounts,” he added.
However, despite fulfilling his obligations and making the payments as instructed, the victim never received the promised commissions and soon realised that he had been deceived.
ACP Zulkipli stated that the case is now under investigation and falls under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which deals with cheating.
In light of this incident, the public are urged to exercise caution and scepticism when encountering lucrative job offers on social media platforms.
“The public are advised to thoroughly investigate and verify the background of companies or agencies before committing to any suspicious job offers.
・Furthermore, they should take advantage of the online verification service provided by the CCID through their website, http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule/. This service enables users to verify suspicious bank accounts and phone numbers.”
For additional advice and information, the public can contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 and follow the official Facebook pages of @CyberCrimeAlertRMP and @JSJKPDRM.
