A YOUNG landscape architect has been left out of pocket by nearly RM68,000 after being duped by a sophisticated online scam involving a fake part-time job, police said.
The 20-year-old woman lodged a report at the Kuala Terengganu police station on Sunday evening after realising she had been defrauded.
Kuala Terengganu District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor, said the incident began on 12 December when the victim clicked on a job offer link on Instagram, which redirected her to WhatsApp.
“The victim then provided her personal information as instructed by the syndicate,” he explained, adding that she was subsequently contacted via Telegram by another individual connected to the scam.
Initially, the victim was asked to pay RM10 as a registration fee. She was then directed to a website claiming to be operated by Padini Holding and assigned tasks that involved purchasing items from the site.
“The victim completed 16 work assignments. She only earned profits from the first two tasks, amounting to RM50 and RM280,” Azli said.
For the remaining tasks, the victim made 11 payments totalling RM67,789, which were transferred to five different bank accounts between 12 and 14 December.
Authorities have warned the public to exercise extreme caution when responding to online job offers, particularly those that require upfront payments or involve complex instructions through social media and messaging apps.
“This case highlights the growing sophistication of online scams and the need for vigilance, especially among young professionals seeking part-time income,” the police chief added. - December 15, 2025
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