Man’s bid to recover RM60,000 investment sees him lose RM40,500 to man claiming to be lawyer
KUCHING: A man here claimed losses of RM40,500 after seeking help from an individual he thought was a Singapore-based lawyer, to recover RM60,000 he had lost in a gold investment scheme.
Michael Kong, who is a special aide to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, said in a statement yesterday that the victim, surnamed Bong, was led to believe that the ‘lawyer’ identified as Mark could help recover the lost funds.
“Bong’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and thorough verification when it comes to entrusting our hard-earned money to others.
“It was fortunate that he did not fall for a second request by the counsel who had asked for another RM120,000 to be credited,” said Kong.
He said to facilitate the recovery of the RM60,000, Bong was asked to open a deposit account on an internet platform.
“Mark insisted that the recovery and refund process for the initial RM60,000 must go through a new bank account which required a deposit of RM40,500. Unaware of the scammer’s tactics, Bong proceeded to deposit the RM40,500 as requested.
“After the initial deposit was made, Mark requested an additional RM120,000 to make some ‘adjustments’ to the deposit account, which triggered Bong’s suspicion and prompted him to seek my advice on whether to proceed with the deposit,” said Kong.
Upon conducting necessary checks, he advised Bong to lodge a police report for the authorities to investigate.
“This unfortunate incident underscores the pervasive dangers lurking on the internet, where scammers prey on unsuspecting victims.”
He thus called for the public to exercise utmost caution and vigilance, particularly when dealing with investments.
“Individuals who intend to do investment must always conduct thorough, due diligence and verification processes to ensure that they are not ensnared in fraudulent schemes.
“Never trust individuals solely based on their claims of being professionals or government officers and, most importantly, refrain from depositing money into accounts under the guise of investments or asset protection without proper consultation with registered financial advisors or legal professionals,” Kong said.