Lab assistant in Melaka loses over RM120,000 to cryptocurrency scam

ALOR GAJAH: A 29-year-old laboratory assistant here has reported losing over RM120,000 to a cryptocurrency investment scam in 2020.

Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Arshad Abu said the deception came to light when the woman lodged a report recently after she fell victim to the investment scam in 2020 when she was aged 26.

“The victim befriended the fraudster through Facebook in 2020 before meeting him personally,” he said on Sunday (July 9).

Supt Arshad said the victim deposited the money into one of the friend’s bank accounts on Nov 19, 2020, adding that it was done at two banks in Masjid Tanah and Alor Gajah on the same day.

He said the victim was promised a monthly payment of RM4,038 for a long-term period with her initial investment.

“However, the victim only received RM12,114 for three months between the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 before she decided to lodge a report, a few days ago,” he said.

Separately, Supt Arshad said a 46-year-old planter and his wife lost RM285,000 to a non-existent investment scam.

He said the planter lodged a police report here on Thursday (July 6).

Supt Arshad said the couple had befriended a woman named “Annie” after seeing her advertisement on Facebook, where lucrative returns were promised.

He added that the victims discovered that they were cheated when unable to log into the website provided by the person once the investment was made in April of this year.

Both reports are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.