Sibu: A trader lost RM135,000 to an online investment scam recently, Sibu district police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili said. He added that the victim, a man in his 40s, received a message on WhatsApp from a woman claiming to be from Kuala Lumpur on June 18, offering him a chance to be part of an investment scheme called AAPL, which promised RM4.20 per unit invested.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victim was instructed to download an app and was subsequently added to a WhatsApp group showcasing supposed profits from the investment scheme. The suspect informed the victim that he would earn a profit of RM42,000 once the initial funds were deposited.

The victim decided to invest and made 18 money transfers totaling RM135,000 to a local bank account between September 4 and 9. However, he did not receive the promised profits and was instead urged to invest more money.

Realizing he had been scammed, the victim lodged a police report on September 13. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud.