JOHOR BAHRU — A 39-year-old company manager lost RM262,669 to an online stock investment scam run via WhatsApp, police said.

According to Seri Alam police chief Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak, the victim responded to a WhatsApp ad in April promising high returns and made 16 payments to two accounts between April 25 and July 4. When asked to pay more for “withdrawing profits” but received nothing, he realised he had been duped.

Checks revealed one of the accounts was already linked to fraud. The case is under Section 420 of the Penal Code, and police are investigating mule account holders.

Police advised the public to beware of too-good-to-be-true schemes, verify companies with the Securities Commission and Semak Mule portal, and never share personal banking details. Scam victims should call the NSRC at 997 immediately.