A 61-YEAR-OLD retiree in Pahang has suffered a loss of RM337,457 after falling victim to a fictitious investment scheme advertised on Facebook, prompting police to issue a stern warning to the public regarding online scams.
Pahang Police Chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the victim was drawn to the advertisement on January 29, which claimed the investment could yield returns of up to RM14,000 with a minimum outlay of RM300.
“The victim then communicated with the suspect via WhatsApp using a local phone number and was instructed to conduct several financial transactions. From January 30 to March 9, the victim made a total of 38 money transfers to 16 different bank accounts amounting to RM337,457,” Yahaya explained in a statement today.
He added that throughout this period, all correspondence regarding the investment, including promised profits, was conducted exclusively through WhatsApp, with no legitimate investment platform involved.
“The victim did receive a single payment of RM392.11, after which they were asked to make an additional payment of RM210,500, purportedly as a withdrawal fee for profits,” he said. The retiree became suspicious and subsequently reported the matter to the police.
Investigations revealed that the victim’s funds came from personal savings and proceeds from pawning jewellery. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Yahaya advised the public to verify any bank account numbers received via links at [https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my/](https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my/) before making any transactions. “Members of the public who suspect they may be victims of a scam are urged to contact the National Scam Response Centre at 997 immediately,” he said. - March 29, 2026
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