Kuala Terengganu: A petrol station clerk was left devastated after losing her savings of RM30,000 to a syndicate that tricked her with a fake prize offer supposedly from Shopee on social media.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor reported that the 26-year-old victim joined a Telegram group on December 19, which promised free gifts to its members. The victim was required to complete several tasks, including making advance payments to certain merchants, to qualify for the promised rewards.

ACP Azli explained that the victim, excited by the prospect of winning big prizes offered by the syndicate, made five transactions totaling RM30,000 using her savings, which included funds withdrawn from her Employees Provident Fund (EPF). The victim made three transactions to a bank account and two more via the BigPay app, as instructed by the suspect.

The victim, who hails from Marang, realized she had been scammed when the suspect continued to demand payments even after the final transaction. Consequently, she lodged a police report yesterday evening. The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, as stated by ACP Azli.