Retiree Loses RM367,950 in a WhatsApp Investment Trap

An accidental WhatsApp message has ended in a RM367,950 loss for a 70-year-old government retiree in Kuala Terengganu.

The case began on July 31 when the retiree received a message from a woman who identified herself as “Via”. According to police, the woman claimed she had contacted him by mistake after confusing him with a contractor she knew. What appeared to be an innocent wrong number conversation gradually developed into a relationship that would eventually cost the victim hundreds of thousands of ringgit.

Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the woman later encouraged the retiree to participate in an investment scheme, presenting it as an opportunity to generate additional income after retirement.

Crucially, the victim was not immediately asked to commit a large amount of money. He initially placed three relatively small investments and received the returns that had been promised.

Those early payments appear to have played a decisive role in establishing confidence in the scheme. Once the victim believed the investment was producing genuine returns, he was instructed to transfer increasingly substantial amounts into several bank accounts that were described as intermediaries for the investment operation.

Between August 22 and September 30, the retiree made 72 transactions into 13 different bank accounts. Police said the transfers totalled RM367,950, with the money coming from proceeds obtained through the sale of land.

The retiree was eventually informed that his investment capital and accumulated profits had exceeded RM800,000 on an investment platform. However, when he attempted to access the money, another financial demand emerged.

He was told that RM80,765 had to be paid as a processing fee before the supposed funds could be withdrawn.

That demand raised suspicions. The retiree refused to make the additional payment and subsequently lodged a police report. Authorities are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which covers cheating offences.