Abstract:Nearly RM900,000 vanished in just three months after a Malaysian man was duped by the Wealth Explorer syndicate, a social media scam posing as a lucrative investment platform.
Nearly RM900,000 vanished in just three months after a Malaysian man was duped by the Wealth Explorer syndicate, a social media scam posing as a lucrative investment platform.
The 59-year-old victim was first lured on 24 April by an advertisement on Facebook promoting what appeared to be a high-return investment. After responding, he was contacted by a woman identifying herself as Annabelle, who then invited him to join a WhatsApp group called Wealth Explorer. The group was run by a syndicate posing as a professional investment community, encouraging members to download an application supposedly designed to manage deposits and track profits.
Believing the operation to be legitimate, the man began transferring funds. Between June and August, he made 21 transactions totalling RM872,290 into 11 separate bank accounts linked to the syndicate. To finance the scheme, he used his personal savings, withdrew from Tabung Haji, and even pawned gold. Despite this huge outlay, he received only RM1,000 in so-called returns.
Why you should never transfer funds to different accounts:
By September, the absence of genuine profits forced the victim to confront the reality of the scam. He lodged a police report on 24 September, detailing how his life savings had been wiped out in just three months.
Kemaman district police have confirmed that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which covers cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property. The investigation is now centred on the Wealth Explorer syndicate, which appears to have orchestrated the deception through social media and encrypted messaging platforms.
Authorities have repeatedly warned that scam syndicates are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often presenting themselves with the appearance of professional investment structures and using group dynamics to instil trust. Victims are persuaded with fabricated proof of returns, false assurances, and carefully staged communication, only to discover the fraud when it is far too late.
Police are urging the public to remain vigilant, stressing that any investment promising unusually high or guaranteed returns should be treated with extreme caution. Verifying credentials with licensed financial institutions and consulting recognised professionals before committing funds remain critical defences against scams.
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