A 71-YEAR-OLD retiree lost RM42,580 in savings after falling victim to a money-doubling scam promoted on Facebook by a man posing as an ustaz.
Kuala Terengganu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said the woman came across an advertisement on Oct 7, at about 1.15pm, claiming that the individual could multiply her money.
Interested in the offer, she left her mobile phone number in the comments section before being contacted by the suspect, who introduced himself as an ustaz (Islamic religious teacher or scholar).
“The suspect then instructed the elderly woman to contact another individual, whom he claimed was his religious teacher, to join a money-doubling scheme purportedly offering returns of RM300,000,” Azli said today.
He said the retiree was subsequently instructed by the purported teacher to make payments to participate in the scheme.
The woman complied, transferring a total of RM42,580 through five transactions into four bank accounts provided by the suspects.
“However, the victim did not receive the promised returns and was instead asked to transfer RM50,000 into one of her own personal bank accounts.
“She became suspicious and eventually realised she had been cheated. This time, the retiree refused to follow the instructions and lodged a police report at Chabang Tiga police station here at 11.06pm the day before yesterday,” he said. - October 17, 2026