In a distressing incident, a 22-year-old university student from Johor Bahru fell prey to a job opportunity scam, resulting in a significant loss of nearly RM73,000. The unsuspecting student was lured by the promise of a part-time job that offered a seemingly attractive monthly income through Telegram Messenger.

According to Johor Bahru (South) district police chief Assistant Commissioner Rauf Selamat, the victim was approached with an enticing proposition she would receive a 10% commission for advertising items online. However, there was a catch; she had to purchase the items first before being eligible to join the online advertising team.

Trusting the scammers' cunning and persuasive tactics, the woman invested a whopping RM72,877 to procure the items as required by the fraudulent job offer.

Realization dawned on her when the promised items failed to materialize, and she never received the promised commissions. In a state of distress, the victim promptly lodged a police report as soon as the scammers requested an additional investment for the commission payout.

The case is now under investigation and is being pursued under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which deals with cheating offenses.

Assistant Commissioner Rauf Selamat also took the opportunity to caution the public against falling victim to similar scams. He urged everyone to exercise vigilance when dealing with unfamiliar job offers, especially those originating from online platforms.

To help combat such scams, Assistant Commissioner Rauf advised the public to verify phone numbers and bank accounts using the Commercial Crime Investigation Department's Portal Semak Mule, accessible at https://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule. This portal contains a list of blacklisted phone numbers and bank accounts known to be associated with fraudulent activities.

Additionally, he emphasized that if individuals suspect unauthorized access to their bank accounts by third parties, they should immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre at 997. By taking swift action, victims can freeze their accounts, preventing further financial losses.

This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder for everyone to remain cautious and vigilant while navigating the digital landscape. Scammers are continually devising new methods to deceive unsuspecting individuals, making it crucial for the public to be well-informed and alert to protect themselves from falling victim to such scams.

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Source: NST