JEMPOL: A merchant from Taman Abu Bakar here lost RM14,274 after being deceived by a fraud syndicate on Facebook. Jempol District Police Chief Supt Hoo Chang Hook said the 54-year-old victim came across an advertisement on Facebook promoting the sale of goods such as milk and flour at low prices.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victim was interested in the offer and clicked on a link within the app, where he filled in personal details, including account numbers and PIN codes. “Subsequently, funds were transferred from the victim’s bank account without authorisation-amounting to RM5,000, RM5,100, RM2,200, and RM1,974.55-into other accounts and platforms. The victim received notifications from the bank that the money had been transferred to several accounts, including TNG eWallet and other named recipients,” he said in a statement today.

Hoo said the trader then realised he had been scammed and lodged a report at the police station, and following the report, authorities conducted checks via the Semak M
ule system on the implicated bank accounts. “Efforts are underway to trace the telecommunications lines used through the MCMC Portal, Mobile Number Portability (MNP), and to obtain account statements of both the victim and suspect via the Commercial Crime Intelligence System (CCIS),” he added.