Money-for-clicks scam leaves retiree RM290,000 poorer

Dato Mancha Ata (file photo)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 31: A retiree, in her early 60s, from Kuching lost RM290,000 worth of savings after falling for a part-time online job scam that offered RM15 for clicking YouTube links.

Sarawak Commissioner of Police Dato Mancha Ata disclosed that the incident unfolded when the victim received a message on WhatsApp in early June from ‘Group Nookcha Production G15’ and was subsequently added by an unknown person into the chat group.

“The victim discovered that the group offered online part-time jobs. She tried clicking on the YouTube link provided by the admin (suspect) identified as Illi and was offered RM15 for every link clicked.

“The victim tried and followed the instructions given, successfully earning RM15 three times through a receptionist known as Henry via Telegram,” he said in a statement today.

Through Henry, the woman was then referred to another suspect known as Tan Cheng via Telegram and was subsequently added to ‘Group 723 VIP Working Group’.

The victim was required to perform several online tasks with the promise that the profit made will be reimbursed later.

“On June 8 at about 10.17am, the victim was instructed to click a link provide (coiinmarketcaap.com) and followed the instructions from the suspect.

“In early June until early July, the woman had performed 18 money transactions in stages (transferring) to 11 different accounts, amounting to about RM290,000,” Mancha added.

She only realised she was deceived after failing to obtain the promised profit. A police report on the incident was lodged yesterday (July 30). — DayakDaily