KUALA LUMPUR – A housewife lost RM4 million after being duped into joining a non-existent stock investment scheme that promised lucrative returns of up to 380%.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the investigation revealed that the 67-year-old woman saw an advertisement for the investment on social media a few months ago and then clicked on the provided link.
“The woman was then added to the investment WhatsApp group and given classes, tips, and notes about the investment,” he said at a special press conference here today.
He said that the woman, lured by the promise of lucrative profits, made money transactions to 11 company accounts as directed but had yet to receive the promised profit.
The woman lodged a police report yesterday and the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud.
Meanwhile, Ramli said the CCID received a total of 5,389 reports on investment fraud last year, involving losses of up to RM472 million.
“A total of 4,170 operations were carried out specifically to bust investment syndicates and from those operations, a total of 3,409 individuals were arrested.
“Based on the records of 2023, 744 individuals or victims of investment fraud are aged 60 and above,” he said. – January 26, 2024