MIRI: The manager of a company here is counting his losses after falling victim to a "Business Email Compromise" scam involving the purchase of frozen pork, resulting in a loss of RM240,000.
Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri stated that a woman in her twenties had contacted the company through their email info@frigorificosunidossa.com for the purchase of frozen pork from overseas in early June.
Elaborating further, he said the victim placed an order for a total of 28,000 kilograms, consisting of 11 types of frozen pork parts, from the company.
"The victim contacted the suspect via WhatsApp at +34602636774 and discussed the payment method. Subsequently, the victim made three payments totaling RM240,000 to two different bank accounts from late July to mid-September," he said in a statement today.
Mohd Azman stated that the victim only realised he had been deceived after checking with the shipping company in mid-September.
He said the victim was informed that the shipping information existed but that the shipment was for another company, not the victim's.
Following this, he said the victim contacted the relevant company again through their original email and was informed that their company's email had been hacked and that they had received complaints from several other customers of the company.
As a result, Mohd Azman said the victim lodged a police report yesterday for further investigation.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.