Sibu: A construction company director from Sibu has been defrauded of RM222,000 in an online scam involving an antique auction.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sibu district police chief ACP Azari Miskon revealed that the victim, a man in his 70s, encountered a Facebook account advertising antique auction services on March 22. The victim proceeded to communicate with two individuals through WhatsApp, who were using an overseas phone number.

The suspects promised to help auction the victim's antique vase and requested advance payments along with additional fees for auctioning, documentation, and the release of purported auction proceeds. ACP Azari explained that the suspects provided fake receipts and auction documents as part of their deception, including alleged proof that the auction transactions were processed overseas.

The director ended up transferring a total of RM222,000 in stages to multiple local bank accounts. It was only after being asked for further payments that the victim realized he had been scammed. Following this realization, the victim filed a police report yesterday, and the case is now being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

ACP Azari urged the public to exercise caution when encountering unverified auctions or investment offers, especially those advertised on social media platforms. He advised against making payments to third-party accounts without conducting thorough checks.