Padawan housewife loses RM159,000 ASNB savings to fake investment scheme

KUCHING (Sept 18): A housewife in Padawan near here lost RM159,000 after withdrawing her Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) savings to invest in a non-existent investment scheme.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata said the victim in her late 30s was added into a Telegram group named ‘@DIRATRADER_OFFICIAL’ by an unknown person in late August.

“The victim was given an explanation about the investment scheme as well as a video detailing the lucrative income that could be derived from the scheme,” he said in a statement today.

Mancha said the victim was also influenced by the ‘good reviews’ given by other members in the Telegram group on the investment scheme.

He said the victim proceeded to withdraw her savings from her ASNB account as capital for the bogus scheme.

“She made a total of 13 money transfers and eight cash deposits between late August and early this month totalling RM159,000.

“She only realised she had been scammed when she did not receive any of the promised profits, nor was her capital returned to her,” he said.

In addition, Mancha said the suspect in the case continued to request the housewife to make additional payments to supposedly facilitate the transfer of her profits into her bank account.

The housewife, however, refused and filed a police report on Sept 17.
In this regard, Mancha reminded the public to only invest with legitimate investment platforms registered with Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission.

“Do not trust any investment that offers lucrative profits in a short period of time,” he said.