Bukit Mertajam: An interior designer from Bukit Mertajam lost RM794,000 after falling victim to an online investment syndicate recently.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad stated that the victim, a 47-year-old woman, reported to the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters on Monday, claiming she had been duped by a syndicate known as ‘Csecdt’.

“In early April 2025, the victim claimed to have seen a high-return investment, advertised on Facebook and she contacted the suspect, a woman via WhatsApp. Through the investment scheme, the victim was promised a 100 per cent profit for each capital sum invested within a short period of time,” he said in a statement tonight.

Hamzah explained that the victim was persuaded by the online investment and was instructed to download the ‘Csecdt’ application to register as a member and begin investing. She subsequently made seven money transfer transactions into seven different bank accounts under various company names, between April 11 and June 3.

The fraud became apparent to the victim when she attempted to withdraw profits totaling RM2 million but was instead asked to pay a withdrawal tax of RM200,000. This prompted her to file a police report.

Investigations are ongoing, and the case is being examined under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.