IPOH: A businessman from Teluk Intan lost RM5,000 to a scammer who had hijacked a friend's Telegram account, says the police.

       Hilir Perak OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Adnan Basri said the 41-year-old businessman, from Kampung Sungai Kerawai, had received a message from his friend, named "Alang" on the social messaging app, asking to borrow money on Tuesday (Feb 22).

       "The 'friend' told the victim that he was facing financial difficulties and wanted to borrow some money," ACP Ahmad Adnan said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 24).

       "Without checking with the real Alang, the businessman agreed to lend him the money," he said.

       "He only found out later that the real Alang had not asked him for any money and that his Telegram account had been hacked by a scammer," he added.

       ACP Ahmad Adnan said the victim had made four online transactions into a mule account set up by the scammer.

       "We wish to remind the people not to simply trust messages they received from acquaintances who ask for money because of emergencies.

       "The people should call their acquaintances directly first before lending them any money to avoid being cheated," he said, adding that the case would be investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.