A FARMER in Kota Tinggi has fallen victim to a sophisticated online scam, losing RM110,840 after attempting to purchase a used car advertised on Facebook.
According to Superintendent Yusof Othman, Kota Tinggi District Police Chief, the 55-year-old local man had come across an advertisement for a used 2024 Toyota Vios priced at RM49,000 earlier this month.
"The victim agreed to purchase the car and was subsequently instructed to make multiple online payments, allegedly for deposit, registration and other processing fees," said Yusof in a statement issued today.
Over the course of the transactions, the victim transferred funds in 17 separate payments to nine different bank accounts. The total amount paid far exceeded the initial advertised price of the vehicle, prompting the man to become suspicious.
Yusof added, "The victim only realised he had been scammed after noticing the total payments had surpassed the advertised value of the car."
The case is now being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which pertains to cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution when conducting online purchases.
"Verify the legitimacy of any advertised sale to avoid becoming a victim of online fraud," said Yusof.
He also advised the public to stay informed on current commercial crime tactics by following the official social media pages of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
In the event of falling victim to such scams, individuals are encouraged to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via the emergency hotline 997 to attempt to halt the outflow of funds. - September 26, 2025
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