Sibu retiree loses RM500,000 after falling victim to online scam

KUCHING (Aug 25) A retired woman in Sibu has lost RM500,000 after falling victim to an e-commerce fraud syndicate through an advertisement for traditional Chinese health products on social media.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the incident occurred after the victim became interested in the advertisement on the Facebook page ‘Ti Zhi Guan Li.’

He stated that the victim contacted ‘Ti Zhi Guan Li’ (the suspect) via WhatsApp to purchase the health products.

“Initially, the purchase went smoothly until the suspect offered the victim an opportunity to become a supplier of health products in the Sibu district, promising lower prices. This agreement was reached without any formal contract,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Mancha explained that the suspect told the victim that she needed to pay the cost of capital and transportation to bring the health products from China to Malaysia.

However, the suspect later claimed that the health products were held by customs at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and requested the victim to make payments for the release of the products to the Sibu district.

“Between mid-December 2023 and the end of July 2024, the victim made a total of 45 transactions in stages to six different bank accounts, amounting to approximately RM500,000.

“The victim realised she had been scammed after all the payments were made, but she was still being asked to make additional payments,” he said, adding that the victim lodged a police report on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mancha advised the public to be cautious of various methods and tactics used by widespread fraud syndicates.

“The public is advised not to entertain unknown phone calls. Furthermore, the public is urged not to panic, be anxious, or feel intimidated by any accusations made against you if you have not committed any wrongdoing.

“The public is also advised not to provide banking information to individuals or any parties who are not known to you,” he emphasised.

He added that the public can contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) on 997 if they are victims of cyber fraud, such as phone scams, love scams, e-commerce fraud and non-existent loans, and if they have just made a money transfer to any suspect’s bank account or e-wallet.