MUAR: A real estate broker lost RM1.45 million to a foreign land investment scam that she found on Facebook.
Police said the woman, 44, came across an advertisement by a Facebook account bearing the name Pantheon Venture in May.
After establishing contact, she was added to a WhatsApp group, where she was furnished with details of the investment scheme.
She made online cash transfers to five bank accounts between June 14 and Aug 13, amounting to RM1.45 million.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the victim received RM25,500 a "return" on her investment.
When she attempted to withdraw her initial investment, she was told there were outstanding investment dues and she had failed to comply with the company's policies and procedures.
Believing she was conned, she lodged a police report yesterday.
The case is investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a minimum sentence of one year and up to 10 years of imprisonment term, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Mukhliz urged the public to be cautious when dealing with cash transactions and to stay informed about common scam tactics by referring to police's Commercial Crime Investigation Department's social media platforms.
Those who believe they have been scammed are urged to immediatetly contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 to activate the "kill switch" that blocks funds from being transferred out of a suspect's bank accounts.