Student loses over RM3,500 to online investment scam

BINTULU: A female university student here has lost over RM3,500 to a bogus online investment scheme.

Bintulu District police chief Supt Zulkipli Suhaili confirmed that the 21-year-old student lodged a police report at the Tanjong Kidurong station last Friday.

He said in the afternoon of Jan 23, the victim saw an advertisement on Facebook promoting an investment opportunity through a company called ‘World Index’.

“Upon seeing the advertisement, she clicked on the WhatsApp link displayed on the page and was immediately connected to a phone number, 0111-671 2933, through which she interacted with an individual who introduced himself as Mohd Nizam Mansor, an agent for the scheme,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Zulkipli said the ‘agent’ then explained the ‘investment plan’ to the victim, which included her having to submit personal details such as her Mykad number, bank account number and email address in order to join the scheme.

“After the completion of this so-called ‘documentation process’ that same day (Jan 23), the ‘agent’ then told the student to make a payment of RM380 as upfront capital for the scheme – this was done via online interbank transfer.

“On Jan 24, she received another WhatsApp text from the ‘agent’, who told her to make another payment of RM1,020 for ‘finance fee’, to which she transferred the money to the same bank account as before.

“On Jan 27, the student was told that her investment profit of RM13,000 would be credited to her bank account, but before that, she must make another payment of RM2,150 to the ‘company’.

“Just like before, she made the payment – only this time, she was only required to transfer a reduced amount of RM1,630,” said Zulkipli.

However, he said on Jan 28, the ‘agent’ contacted the student again, informing her that there was never any offer for reduced payment and thus, she was required to deposit RM500 to the same account, which she later did.

“Eventually, the student felt something was amiss – this was confirmed later when she could no longer communicate with the ‘agent’ after the last transaction.

“In this regard, the police would like to remind the public never to disclose any personal and financial information to strangers who have contacted them via phone calls or other means of telecommunications,” stressed Zulkipli.

He also advised everyone to always verify with the relevant authorities before joining any investment or business scheme.

“Contact us at any police station the nearest to you, should you have any concern about these so-call schemes,” he added.