Retiree’s Tabung Haji Savings Gone: Elderly Retiree Loses RM277,000 After One Whatsapp Message

An 87-year-old retiree in Terengganu has lost RM277,000 after falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme promoted through WhatsApp.

The victim lodged a police report at the Kuala Terengganu police station after discovering that the investment opportunity he had trusted for weeks was entirely fictitious. By the time the deception became clear, the savings he had accumulated over a lifetime had already been transferred out of his control.

Kuala Terengganu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor confirmed that the case is now under investigation, adding to a growing number of reports involving fraudulent investment offers circulated through messaging platforms.

According to investigators, the scheme began on September 18 last year at around 11am. While at home in Kuala Terengganu, the retiree encountered an advertisement promoting a share investment opportunity on the WhatsApp application.

The message presented what appeared to be a legitimate investment programme, suggesting that participants could earn profits through structured share trading. Such advertisements are often designed to appear credible and are increasingly used by scammers to reach potential victims directly on their personal devices.

The advertisement caught the retirees attention, prompting him to seek more information about the opportunity.

Police said the victim subsequently began communicating with an individual identifying herself as “Ms Nina”. During their exchanges, the suspect reportedly explained the investment scheme and encouraged the retiree to participate.

Authorities believe the suspect gradually built the victims trust through ongoing conversations before persuading him to transfer funds into designated bank accounts.

Between November 13 and December 24 last year, the retiree carried out several bank transfers to what he believed were legitimate investment accounts. The payments were made in multiple transactions across two separate bank accounts.

In total, the victim transferred RM277,000 — with RM95,000 sent to one account and RM182,000 to another.

Police confirmed that the funds came from the retirees personal savings as well as his Tabung Haji savings. For many Malaysians, Tabung Haji accounts represent long-term savings intended to finance the pilgrimage to Mecca, making the loss particularly devastating.

Despite the substantial transfers, the promised returns never materialised.

Investigators said the retiree initially believed the investment was progressing normally. However, concern began to grow when no profits were credited and communication with the suspect became increasingly uncertain.

The victim eventually realised that he had been deceived after repeated attempts to obtain returns or clarification failed.

Once the reality of the situation became clear, he filed a police report, triggering a formal investigation.

Authorities confirmed that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which covers offences involving cheating and dishonestly inducing the transfer of property.

Law enforcement officials have warned that fraudulent investment schemes distributed through social media and messaging platforms are increasing at an alarming rate. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, often presenting convincing narratives and using persistent communication to gain the trust of potential victims.

Elderly individuals are among the most frequently targeted groups. Fraud syndicates often exploit retirees who may possess savings but have limited exposure to the tactics commonly used in online financial fraud.

Losses in these cases can be severe, frequently reaching hundreds of thousands of ringgit and, in some instances, wiping out a victims entire life savings.

Assistant Commissioner Azli stressed the importance of extreme caution when dealing with financial offers received through messaging applications or social media.

Authorities continue to urge the public to verify the legitimacy of any investment opportunity through official financial regulators before transferring funds. Individuals are also advised never to send money to unfamiliar bank accounts or unknown parties based solely on online communication.

Police emphasise that once funds have been transferred to scammers, recovering the money becomes extremely difficult.