A 61-YEAR-OLD supermarket saleswoman has lost RM290,910 after falling victim to a sophisticated two-stage scam involving a bogus online investment scheme followed by a fraudulent recovery operation.
The woman lodged a police report at 12.59pm on Saturday after discovering she had been cheated through an investment scheme advertised on Facebook since May.
Kuala Terengganu District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said the victim was initially drawn to a low-cost investment opportunity that promised substantial profits within just three hours.
She transferred the initial investment capital and was subsequently informed that she had generated returns. However, she was told that additional payments were required before the profits could be released.
"After making all the payments, the victim did not receive any of the promised profits.
"The victim was then contacted by an individual claiming to be an officer handling online fraud cases, who offered to help recover the lost money. However, the victim was once again asked to make further payments," he said.
Believing the individual could help recover her losses, the victim proceeded to make 57 separate transactions into 16 different bank accounts between June 14 and July 31.
Azli said the woman lost a total of RM290,910, comprising her personal savings and money raised from pawning her gold jewellery.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He advised the public to exercise caution when approached with investment opportunities promising unusually high returns over a short period and urged them to verify the legitimacy of any scheme before making financial transactions. - August 2, 2026
