MIRI – A housewife in Bintulu town in northern Sarawak has alleged that a newfound friend on WhatsApp had cheated her of RM183,000 in life savings after adding her to a new chat group and introducing her to supposed online jobs.
The housewife in her 40s claimed that she had acquainted herself with a friend named “Sarah” on July 18, and was later cheated into making 16 online payments to five different bank accounts for investments that turned out to be scams.
Sarawak deputy police commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said in a press statement today that the housewife lodged a report at the Bintulu police station.
According to the report, Sarah had contacted her on WhatsApp and subsequently befriended her, persuading her to join a new group on the chat platform called Equity Builders B13.
“The housewife said that since July 18, she had been coaxed into taking part in part-time online jobs that required her to click ‘like’ and ‘follow’ buttons on certain TikTok accounts.
“The housewife said that Sarah had also linked her up to a certain app that enables tasks for investment.
“The housewife said that she had since been coaxed into paying RM183,000 over 16 online payments to five different bank accounts for investments that offered good profits.
“She said she has only received RM300 so far in returns and lodged a report after realising she had been scammed," he said.
The housewife said that the person severed contact with her and that the money she had “invested” had been withdrawn.
Mancha said police had often reminded the public to be wary of online schemes that offer lucrative financial returns. – The Vibes, July 28, 2023
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