Housewife loses RM39,000 in online part-time job scam

Milton Foo (left) briefs Sarawak Deputy Premier and SUPP president Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian on public complaints during a routine update. File photo.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, April 12: A housewife in her 40s lost nearly RM39,000 after falling victim to an online part-time job scam advertised on Facebook, according to Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau chief Milton Foo.

Foo, in a statement, said the victim came across the job advertisement on April 1 and was directed to a “customer service” representative via WhatsApp after clicking on the post.

She was instructed to log into a so-called “work account” and carry out tasks involving booking hotel orders. To receive commissions, she was required to transfer money to the platform, submit screenshots of completed tasks, and wait for verification before payments were supposedly credited to her bank account.

According to the victim, she initially received returns after completing several tasks, which led her to continue.

“The first time I got money, I also did it five or six times. After that, they kept saying I still had orders that had not been completed. I kept sending money to different bank accounts as given by them,” she reportedly said.

However, after making multiple transfers, no further payments were received. The scammers later claimed there were issues with her “work account” and told her that failure to continue remitting money would result in the account being closed, with no refund of the funds already transferred.

Foo said the victim made a total of 13 online transfers over a few days, amounting to RM39,000, before lodging a police report at Siburan Police Station on April 8.

He warned the public against falling for high-paying job offers on social media, as well as schemes involving low-interest loans and high-return investments.

“These are unrealistic online frauds aimed at scamming our hard-earned money. Victims not only suffer financial losses but may also face intimidation, including threats, extortion or blackmail involving their family members,” he said.

Foo revealed that since taking over the bureau in 2022, reported losses from online and telecommunications scams have exceeded RM30 million.

He added that despite ongoing awareness efforts, including anti-scam talks over the past four years, enforcement remains inadequate.

He criticised relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Communications, for not doing enough to curb online fraud, adding that banks and telecommunication companies are often used as channels by scam syndicates without sufficient accountability.

“Laws and regulations will be meaningless if they are not strictly enforced. Online scams are becoming rampant, and people are living in fear of losing their savings overnight,” he said.

Foo urged the government and Members of Parliament to treat the issue seriously and implement effective measures to address the growing threat of online scams. — DayakDaily