KUANTAN: Tempted to invest in a crypto-currency trading scheme, a medical assistant used up all her savings before persuading her husband to spare some cash.
The duo ended up losing RM79,750 of their hard-earned savings to scammers in the fraudulent investment scheme.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the 42-year-old victim spotted the Bitcoin investment scheme on Facebook and joined the scheme on Feb 14.
"The scammers tricked the victim by claiming the company was a platform belonging to a famous financial investment and management adviser in the country. The victim signed up for the silver package which was priced at RM4,500 and was promised RM15,000 in returns.
"The suspects convinced the victim to make several other payments including for income tax relief and foreign currency exchange. She ended up making eight transactions amounting to RM79,950 to eight different bank accounts," he said in a statement.
Ramli said the victim emptied her own savings and used her husband's savings for the scheme before realising she had been duped after they did not receive any returns as promised.
Meanwhile, Ramli said in a separate incident on March 9, a 31-year-old woman who wanted to borrow RM100,000 ended up losing RM37,800 in a fraud loan scheme.
"The victim saw the online loan advertisement and contacted the agent. She was told to pay processing fees and other payments which resulted in her paying RM37,800 of her savings," he said.
Ramli said both cases were being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping, and a fine, if convicted.