KUALA LUMPUR: Police have already taken action against one person in the baby-selling scam on social media.
Now, they are looking for another person.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf confirmed that investigation papers had already been opened over two reports lodged by victims, one in Penang and the other in Perak.
In the case in Perak, he said, police had tracked down the owner of a bank account into which money had been transferred and charged her on Tuesday at the Taiping magistrate's court under Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act 1955.
"The suspect had pleaded guilty to the offence in court and was fined RM500."
Ramli said police were tracking down the owner of a bank account in the case in Penang.
"Investigations into the case are still ongoing," he said.
It was reported that scammers preying on the desperation of childless couples are turning TikTok into their latest "hunting grounds", sowing false promises to victims and leaving them poorer by thousands of ringgit.
In one TikTok post the scammer, who claims to be an agent facilitating the adoption of babies, says there is a baby up for adoption.
A photo of the supposed newborn and a phone number is provided.
When an interested party calls, they will be given details of the baby including the date and time of birth, hospital, gender and the "adoption" fee — RM9,000 for a girl and RM8,000 for a boy.
The scammer also promises that the process will be hassle-free and that the adoptive parents' names will be printed on the birth certificate.
According to the scammer, this is possible because he has "contacts" in several hospitals and the National Registration Department.
Once the money is paid, though, calls to the agent go unanswered.