A 36-year-old company director in Kota Tinggi lost RM167,050 after responding to a fake loan advertisement on Facebook, police said [1, 2]. The victim made nine separate payments to different bank accounts but never received the promised RM500,000 loan [1, 2].
The scam started on May 21, 2026, when the victim saw the personal loan offer on Facebook [2]. Believing the advertisement, he proceeded with the payments as instructed. The payments were allegedly part of the loan approval process demanded by the syndicate behind the fraud.
Police Superintendent Yusof Othman explained, "The modus operandi of this loan syndicate involved asking the victim to make several payments as part of the loan requirements and approval process" [2].
The victim realized the fraud two days later and submitted a police report on May 23, 2026 [1, 2]. Authorities have opened an investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating [1, 2].
The police warned the public to exercise caution when dealing with loan advertisements on social media and advised against making advance payments without verifying the legitimacy of the offer [2].
The case remains under active investigation with no arrests announced. Authorities continue to urge vigilance in handling loan applications found online.
