JEMPOL: A businessman who wanted to help a friend and employee to apply for Malaysian permanent resident cards has been cheated of RM11,600 in an online scam.

       Jempol OCPD Supt Hoo Chang Hook said the 60-year-old decided to help the duo who were both foreigners to apply for the PR status card after he saw an advertisement on Facebook on Nov 10.

       "He then got in touch with a female suspect whose number was given in the advertisement and was told that he will have to pay RM4,800 for each application.

       "The victim was told that he would have to fork out an additional RM2,000 for each foreigner as a miscellaneous fee," he said in a statement.

       Supt Hoo said the victim then paid the suspect RM11,600 which was the application fee for both individuals and miscellaneous payment for one of them.

       He banked the money into three accounts between Nov 10 and Nov 30.

       "After having banked in the money, the victim was told that he will also have to bank in the remaining RM2,000 before the applications can be processed.

       "He then became suspicious and felt that he was being scammed.

       "After some time, he could no longer contact the individual he had been dealing and lodged a report yesterday (Dec 6)," he said.

       The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. The offence carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.