A 22-year-old university staff from Kuantan fell prey to the promises of easy money through an online part-time job, resulting in the loss of a staggering RM118,767. 

The victim, whose identity is being protected, initially earned a seemingly modest profit of RM47 from her first two online tasks. Encouraged by these initial earnings, she saw the potential for "greater returns." However, she was unaware that these profits were the bait that would lead her into a devastating financial predicament.

According to Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman, the unfolding drama began on July 23rd when the victim connected with a person on Instagram who presented an online task. Claiming to be in need of assistance, the person lured the victim into completing the task by promising substantial payments in return.

This deceptive scheme escalated as the victim received a link and was instructed to capture screenshots of various goods and share them with the "employer." The victim was then told to transfer specific amounts of money, corresponding to the goods' apparent value, alongside the shared images. This process supposedly made her eligible for her earnings.

Falling for the illusion of a genuine opportunity, the victim took out a bank loan, borrowed money from friends, and depleted her savings to carry out a total of 20 transactions, amounting to a whopping RM118,767. Her conviction that her efforts would yield profits turned into despair when she realized that the promised rewards were never going to materialize.

After her painstaking realization, the victim lodged a police report, leading authorities to investigate the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which pertains to fraud.

Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman issued a strong word of caution to the public, urging them to be skeptical of enticing job offers that promise high profits for minimal work. He advised individuals to conduct thorough background checks on the companies and individuals behind such offers, particularly when encountering them on social media platforms.

Highlighting the need for prudence, he recommended using the semakmule.rmp.gov.my platform to verify the legitimacy of transactions and potential job opportunities before proceeding.

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