KUCHING: Kuching police confirmed that a 69-year-old local man has lost RM91,720 after falling victim to an online part-time job scam.
Kuching district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the victim lodged a report on August 18 after being duped through a website offering part-time ‘e-commerce’ jobs.
“On July 16, the victim accessed a website and was promised commissions for every completed task.
“He was then added into a WhatsApp group and instructed to make multiple payments. Over time, he carried out 16 transactions to 16 different bank accounts, resulting in total losses amounting to RM91,720.76,” he said.
Alexson revealed that between January 1 and August 18 this year, Kuching police have investigated 34 similar cases involving the same modus operandi, with overall losses exceeding RM1.42 million.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries imprisonment of one to ten years, whipping, and a possible fine upon conviction.
Alexson advised the public to be extra cautious when dealing with strangers on social media. “Online scams fall under commercial crime, and they can be prevented if the public is equipped with knowledge and remains vigilant. Awareness is the key to protecting our community from falling prey to scammers,” he stressed.
By Connie Chieng