Victim made 11 bank transfers after being promised high profits by fake recruiters
A 38-year-old businessman in Johor was cheated out of over RM120,000 after falling for an online job scam promoted through a Google advertisement.
The scam began when the victim clicked on a job ad on January 24 and unknowingly engaged with a criminal syndicate. He was lured by promises of high commissions for completing online sales tasks.
False Job Offer Through Google Ad
According to Seri Alam police chief ACP Mohd Sohaimi Ishak, the businessman was enticed by an online job advertisement he found via Google on January 24. Interested in earning extra income, he clicked the link and began communicating with individuals believed to be part of a fraud syndicate. The scammers offered him large profits for each sale he supposedly completed, manipulating him into making a series of transactions.
Transactions Totaling Over RM120,000
Between February 3 and February 28, the victim made 11 bank transfers totaling RM120,873.69 to five separate personal bank accounts as instructed by the scammers. After completing the transactions, he was then told to make additional deposits to withdraw his ‘profits’ and close the account. Only when he failed to retrieve any of the promised returns did he realize he had been deceived.
Initial investigations through the official Semak Mule CCID portal (https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my/) revealed a disturbing pattern: the five bank accounts involved had a total of 22 prior police reports connected to similar part-time job and investment scams. These findings confirmed the operation was part of a larger fraud network actively targeting online job seekers in Malaysia.
The case is now under investigation pursuant to Section 420 of the Malaysian Penal Code, which deals with cheating and carries penalties of at least 10 years in prison, whipping, and fines. ACP Sohaimi stressed the seriousness of such online scams and urged members of the public to stay alert when encountering suspicious financial opportunities online.
Prevention Tips for Public Awareness
Authorities are encouraging the public to verify suspicious bank accounts using the Semak Mule website or app before making transactions. Mohd Sohaimi also advised against sharing personal banking details with unknown parties and warned people not to be fooled by promises of quick, high returns. Victims of fraud should contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) immediately at 997 for swift action to block accounts and limit further losses.
The cross-border implications of such scams, easily accessible through platforms like Google, should concern international visitors and digital job seekers. With Malaysia being a close neighbor to Singapore, such frauds pose a risk not only to locals but also to individuals engaging with regional job markets online.
Sources: Malay Mail (2025), The Star (2025)
Keywords: Job Scam Malaysia, Online Fraud Syndicate, Seri Alam Police, Johor Victim News
