A 57-YEAR-OLD female teacher in Penang has reportedly lost RM604,000 after falling victim to an online investment scam disguised as a gambling-based investment scheme, police confirmed.
Penang Police Chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the victim lodged a police report yesterday at the Southwest District Police Headquarters regarding the incident.
“According to the teacher, last August she was added to a WhatsApp group called ‘Pelaburan Sentosa’ by a man claiming to be an investment agent,” he explained.
Datuk Azizee said the scheme, presented as a gambling-style investment promising high returns, enticed the victim with assurances of profits of up to 350 percent within a month of the invested capital. “The victim was provided with explanations about the investment and was directed to a website to register for membership and make her investments,” he added.
Believing the scheme to be legitimate, the teacher reportedly conducted 20 separate transfers into five different accounts linked to the company, totaling RM604,000 between 2 October and 31 October.
The victim realised she had been defrauded when she was unable to withdraw the supposed profits of RM1.8 million accumulated within the application. The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
“This incident highlights the increasing sophistication of online investment scams and the need for the public to exercise caution when approached with schemes promising unusually high returns,” Datuk Azizee added. - November 21, 2025
