Kuala terengganu: Two men have collectively lost more than RM400,000 as victims of separate online investment scams, with one also falling prey to a love scam.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in Kuala Terengganu, a 54-year-old lecturer was swindled out of RM172,170 after being enticed by a cryptocurrency investment proposition from a woman he encountered through the TilMatch app. Police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor revealed that the lecturer made five financial transfers totaling RM162,170 but received no returns. He realized he had been scammed when he was asked to invest even more.

The lecturer also became a victim of a love scam involving another woman he met on the same application. An accomplice, pretending to be a courier company representative, demanded RM12,500 for the release of a parcel supposedly held by customs. The victim paid RM10,000 with his remaining savings, only to later discover that the account was associated with fraud.

Meanwhile, in Jerantut, Pahang, a 67-year-old engineer was deceived out of RM230,000 after engaging in a fictitious investment scheme offered via WhatsApp. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman stated that the engineer was promised returns of up to RM150,000 for a RM50,000 investment and proceeded to make nine transfers to four different bank accounts between July 16 and 3. He grew suspicious after being continuously asked to pay more due to claimed processing issues.

Both incidents are under investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.