She Got Hit With 2 Scams At Once and Lost Over RM 1.15Million

A 50-year-old Malaysian farmer has lost more than RM1.15 million after an online relationship allegedly evolved into a sophisticated investment scam involving gold, promised profits and a purported lottery platform.

According to Pahang police, the victim first became acquainted with an individual identifying himself as “Siew Gui Lim @ Jason” through WhatsApp on July 17. What began as an online friendship gradually developed into a closer relationship, allowing the individual to build the victim's confidence before money entered the picture.

Pahang acting police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob said the individual presented himself as a cybersecurity consulting director. He subsequently introduced the woman to what was described as a gold investment opportunity, promising financial returns if she committed funds.

The investment soon took another turn. After payments had already been made, the individual introduced a platform called “Veniec Lottery”, which was allegedly presented as a means for the victim to recover money she had invested.

Instead of recovering her capital, however, the woman was persuaded to make further deposits on promises that she could obtain profits and bonuses.

By the time the transfers stopped, the financial damage had become enormous. Police said the victim had transferred a total of RM1,150,034.70 into seven separate bank accounts. The money did not come solely from disposable income. It reportedly included her personal savings as well as funds borrowed from family members, dramatically widening the consequences of the alleged scam.

The warning signs became undeniable when the victim attempted to withdraw her money but was unable to do so. It was only then that she realised she had apparently been deceived.

The combination of romance and investment fraud can be especially destructive because the victim is effectively being sold two illusions simultaneously: the authenticity of a relationship and the legitimacy of an investment.

Police have urged the public to exercise caution when online acquaintances use friendships or personal relationships to encourage investments or request money. Malaysians have also been advised to verify suspicious telephone numbers and bank accounts through the police's Semak Mule service before transferring funds.

Those who believe they have fallen victim to a scam should act quickly. Malaysian authorities advise suspected victims to contact the National Scam Response Centre at 997 and lodge a police report. In an environment where digital relationships and financial transactions increasingly overlap, hesitation can give fraudsters valuable time to move funds beyond recovery.