IPOH: A 69-year-old retired teacher has lost over RM442,000 after investing in a non-existent scheme via a WhatsApp chat.

       Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the woman from Taman Bercham Jaya here was tricked into investing in the scheme via the non-existent “ACCERX" platform.

       He said the woman lodged a police report on Jan 24.

       Comm Mohd Yusri Hassan said in August last year, the victim was added into a WhatsApp group offering investment schemes.

       “The suspect, who is also the group admin of the group presented on how to participate in the investment scheme, and this caught the attention of the victim.

       “Since then the victim transferred money 17 times into 12 different bank accounts totaling RM442,947.

       “However when the victim wanted to withdraw the interest money, the suspect told her to continue making payments, and that is when she realised she had been cheated,” he said in a statement issued on Thursday (Jan 25).

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       Comm Mohd Yusri advised the people to always be wary of such offers on social media promising big returns, especially with unauthorised applications not approved by Bank Negara or the Securities Commission.

       Comm Mohd Yusri said people can call the National Scam Response Centre hotline at 997 if they have been scammed or if they have conducted transactions to unknown accounts.

       He said the public can also call 013-211 1222 (WhatsApp only) from 8am to 8pm.

       For more information on the current fraud trends, the public can visit: www.facebook.com/jsjkpdrm or www.facebook.com/cybercrimealertrmp.

       The public can also check bank accounts and mobile numbers linked to fraud cases via https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my.