State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt E. Sundra Rajan said the 20-year-old from Selandar in Jasin desperately wanted an iPhone 12 Pro Max which was offered at a dirt-cheap price on Instagram.
"The phone was offered for RM1, 800 by a Singaporean and the student contacted the seller via Whatsapp," he said on Tuesday .He added that the student's father was working out of town and could not return home because of travel restrictions.Supt Sundra said as soon as the initial payment was made, the scammer asked the student for an additional payment of RM17, 200.
Supt Sundra said the student made the payments through six transactions before realising he had been cheated.Supt Sundra said the student admitted stealing the money from his father when his statement was recorded.Separately, Supt Sundra said a 23-year-old student lost RM12, 810 after applying for a job as a social media influencer through Facebook."The student was supposed to receive an initial payment of RM17, 000 for 60 tasks given to him by the scammer in May," he said.
Supt Sundra said the scammer claimed that the student should pay the taxes up front before he could receive the money and subsequent monthly payments of RM17, 000.However, Supt Sundra said the student lodged a police report on June 4 after he did not received any payment. "The student said he borrowed money from his family to pay the scammer," he said, adding that both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.