KUALA LUMPUR – An 80-year-old woman lost over RM10 million to scammers who convinced her in a WhatsApp group chat to invest in a non-existent scheme.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the woman lodged a police report last night about a fake investment scheme using cryptocurrency.
The retiree said she was asked to join the scheme after being added to a WhatsApp group chat, where the group administrators promoted the cryptocurrency investment scheme on a website called accerx.com.
“The complainant said she dealt with a man who told her he had advanced her money to invest in cryptocurrency. She was asked to repay him once her investment was successful.
“She made 13 transactions to multiple bank accounts in the names of eight different companies,” Ramli said in a statement today.
In total, she transferred RM10,455,288.
Ramli said the retiree only began to suspect that something was wrong when she was continually asked to make more transfers for various reasons.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which pertains to cheating.
Ramli reminded the public, particularly the elderly, to be wary of easy, quick money “investments” advertised online or via social media.
“Always check the purported investment with Bank Negara or the Securities Commission before deciding to join any investment scheme,” he said. – January 27, 2024