KUANTAN: A 65-year-old retiree was tricked into investing RM730,000 in a non-existent online scheme where she only managed to make a RM5,000 profit.
After receiving the sum, the victim from Kuantan could no longer access the website to check on her investments and did not receive any further payouts.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the victim spotted the investment package through Telegram on March 14 this year and was keen to participate in the scheme.
"The scheme lured investors by promising a 20 percent profit. The victim registered through the Bitpanda website which served as the official platform for investors.
"She made 19 transactions amounting RM730,000 into 14 separate bank accounts between April 20 and June 9 this year. She received RM5,000 profit but later the website became inaccessible.
"When she informed the individual who handled the scheme, the victim was told to invest more cash. The victim lodged a police report here yesterday," he said, adding that the victim had used her own savings and cash borrowed from a friend.
Yahaya said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He reminded members of the public not to be easily influenced by investment schemes on social media which promise huge returns and to take a minute to verify any account number or mobile number via https://semakmule.rmp. gov.my before making any transactions.