FIVE traders in Kuantan have collectively lost RM89,300 after falling victim to a scam syndicate posing as officers from local government authorities, using fake documents to solicit bookings for official events.
According to Kuantan District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Ashari Abu Samah, the victims were contacted by the suspects via phone calls and WhatsApp, during which the perpetrators introduced themselves as government representatives.
“The suspects claimed they were seeking to place orders on behalf of a government agency, involving items and services such as curtains, food, souvenirs, and catering,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
To convince the victims, the scammers allegedly provided forged documents, including a Local Order (LO) and vendor appointment letters.
Ashari added that the victims were then instructed to contact specific ‘suppliers’ and make payments into personal bank accounts.
“After payments were made, both the suspects and the so-called suppliers became unreachable. That’s when the victims realised they had been deceived,” he said.
Initial investigations revealed a consistent modus operandi across the cases, leading police to believe the fraud is the work of a coordinated syndicate. The cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Ashari urged the public, especially business owners, to exercise caution when dealing with individuals claiming to represent government agencies—particularly when asked to make payments to personal accounts.
“All documents, including Local Orders, should be verified directly with the issuing agency. Any doubts should be referred to the nearest police station or the Commercial Crime Investigation Division,” he advised. - September 25, 2025
