(MIRI, 10th) A scammer posed as an Agriculture Department officer to lure a businessman into a solar system supply scheme, resulting in the businessman losing over RM30,000
Miri District Police Chief Superintendent Alexson Naga Chabu confirmed that the Miri District Commercial Crime Investigation Unit received a report on March 7, 2025, involving a false project scam. The scam involved a suspect impersonating an Agriculture Department officer to conduct an online fraud related to solar system procurement.
The victim, a local businessman in his 50s, saw a Facebook post about the Agriculture Department searching for solar system suppliers for a project worth RM324,900 . Interested in the project, he contacted the poster of the Facebook post to become the solar system supplier. He then received a WhatsApp message from someone claiming to be an Agriculture Department officer, who agreed to let him become the supplier on the condition that he must purchase the solar system from a designated seller. The victim accepted the condition and contacted the seller using the phone number provided.
During the transaction, the victim made an online transfer of the payment. However, the next day, upon verifying with the Agriculture Department, he discovered they had never issued such a procurement order, realizing he had been scammed, with a loss amounting to RM30,000 .
The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which, upon conviction, may result in imprisonment from one to ten years, caning, and fines.
Police remind the public to exercise caution and thoroughly verify information when securing projects or conducting transactions online to avoid being scammed. In cases of online scams, including false job offers, non-existent loans, love scams, e-commerce frauds, and phone scams, individuals can contact the National Scam Response Center (NSRC) hotline at 997, especially immediately after making any suspicious bank or e-wallet transfers.