IPOH – A government pensioner has reported to police that he lost RM542,171 in retirement savings belonging to him and his wife in a cryptocurrency investment scam.
The 70-year-old retiree from Hutan Melintang lodged the report at the Hilir Perak District Police Headquarters at about 4.30 pm yesterday, Perak Police Chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said today.
He said initial investigations revealed that on Jan 8 the pensioner contacted one Facebook user by the name of Najwan Islamic, with a Singapore address, who offered the service of purchasing cryptocurrency stocks in the United States.
“The scammer requested the personal details of the pensioner, such as identity card number and bank account number, for documentation under the so-called investment scheme,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Yusri said the pensioner began to invest in the stocks the following day, purchasing two units of shares for RM500. He deposited the money in a local bank account.
The scammer informed the pensioner that he would receive a reinvestment amount of RM4,950, meaning he would make a profit of RM4,500 in one day – the same day, he said.
“He also told the pensioner not to withdraw the money as the funds will continue to grow,” he said.
Mohd Yusri said the pensioner contacted the scammer on Jan 10 to learn more about his investment and was told that he had made a profit of RM18,500 and was asked to make various payments to get back all of his investment money.
He said the pensioner made 133 transactions between January and July and transferred online to 39 bank accounts a total of RM542,171.20 and during that period, he did not receive any returns for his investment.
The scammer kept on asking the pensioner to invest more but when the latter asked for the return of his investments, the former gave all kinds of excuses and subsequently did not respond to the WhatsApp messages, he said.
Mohd Yusri said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. – Bernama
