Scam alert: elderly woman loses over RM6 mil to non-existent investment scheme

61-year-old trader in Perak realises she was duped when she tried to withdraw RM2.2 mil but suspect did not reply, platform not accessible

A 61-year-old trader in Perak has lost RM6.22 million, the highest amount lost to scams in the state so far, after falling victim to a non-existence investment scheme. – Alif Omar/Scoop pic, January 23, 2024

IPOH – A woman lost RM6.22 million after allegedly falling victim to a non-existent gold investment scheme since October last year, the highest amount of losses due to scams in Perak so far. 

State police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the woman, aged 61, who is a trader from Taman Rasi Jaya here, browsed an investment blog on the social networking site Facebook on October 14 last year. 

“The woman then clicked a link with the suspect’s telephone number through the WhatsApp application and the suspect then entered the woman’s phone number into various WhatsApp groups to invest in the gold market,” he said in a statement today. 

“Since then, the woman deposited funds 32 times, amounting to RM6.22 million, to 11 bank accounts.” 

He said the woman only realised she had been duped when she wanted to withdraw her investment money of RM2.2 million yesterday but the suspect did not reply to her message and the investment platform could not be accessed. 

According to Yusri, the woman lodged a police report yesterday and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. – January 23, 2024