Kuala lumpur: A woman running a photocopy and printing service business claims to have lost nearly RM316,000 after falling victim to a non-existent tender scam. Pahang acting police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob said the 52-year-old victim initially received a message via WhatsApp on Sept 1 from an individual claiming to represent the Kuala Kangsar District Education Office (PPD).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the suspect asked the victim to prepare a quotation for the supply of exam question papers; however, on Sept 10, the individual contacted the victim again, requesting two projectors to be delivered to the Kuala Kangsar PPD. As the victim's company did not have projectors in stock, the suspect provided a phone number for an individual to handle the supply.

Azry Akmar Ayob stated that the victim subsequently ordered two projectors and made payments into the provided bank account, after which the individual sent a photo purportedly proving that the items had been received by the Kuala Kangsar PPD. However, on Friday, the woman received another order and made several payment transactions for 35 projectors. She then asked the party involved to submit company registration documents and a Tax Identification Number (TIN), but received no response.

Yesterday, the victim contacted the suspect again and was merely told that the order was being processed for delivery; subsequently, she received no further information regarding the order and was unable to contact the individual. Azry Akmar stated that the victim later realised she had been scammed and lodged a report at the Raub district police headquarters yesterday, with the case being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.