Kuching pensioner loses RM290,000 to online part-time job scam

KUCHING (July 31): A pensioner here lost around RM290,000 of her savings after falling victim to an online part-time job scam.

Sarawak police commissioner Dato Mancha Ata in a statement today said the victim, who is in her 60s, lodged a police report today after failing to acquire the promised returns.

“The victim in her report claimed that, in early June this year, she received a brief message via WhatsApp from a group ‘Nookcha Production G15’ where she was added by an unknown person,” he said.

He added that the victim discovered the group offered online part-time jobs, promising RM15 for clicking a YouTube link provided by a suspect named ‘Illi’.

“The victim followed the given instructions and received a RM15 payment on three separate occasions,” said Mancha.

The victim was then referred to another group on Telegram called ‘723 VIP Working Group’ where she was required to complete several online tasks with promised profits.

On June 8, 2024, around 10.17am, the victim was directed to click on a link, and followed further instructions from another suspect.

“From early June 2024 until July 2024, the victim made 18 money transactions in stages to 11 different bank accounts, totaling approximately RM290,000. The victim realised she was duped after not receiving any promised returns,” said Mancha.

In a separate case, a love scam was reported by a female pensioner in her early 70s in Miri yesterday.

Mancha said the victim in early April this year met a man named Dr Wang Muyang via the LINE messaging app.

She then communicated with the suspect and fell in love, he added.

The suspect scammed the victim by telling her that he wanted to send her gifts as a token of their introduction.

A week later, the victim was informed by customs that there was a parcel in her name containing prohibited items, specifically American currency, said Mancha.

For the parcel to be released, the victim was asked to make payments, he added.

Panicking, the victim made payments from April until July in nine transactions totalling to RM160,000 to four different bank accounts, Mancha said.