KUCHING, July 15 2026: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant Michael Kong reminded members of the public to exercise caution when responding to online investment advertisements that promise attractive returns.
He said even if an investment opportunity appears too good to be true, it is always better to verify the legitimacy of the investment and the entity involved before transferring any money.
Kong gave the reminder after meeting a certain Ms Phang who came to see him for assistance after becoming the victim of what appears to be an online investment scam, which has since escalated into a far more serious matter involving alleged unauthorised banking activities and the possible misuse of her personal identity.
“She came across an investment advertisement on Facebook and, after clicking on it, was directed to communicate with an individual through Facebook Messenger. Following a series of conversations and assurances, she transferred RM2,000 into a bank account provided by the individual.
“Thereafter, all communication ceased, and she was unable to contact the purported promoter,” he said, adding that after she believed she had been deceived, she decided not to pursue the investment any further and thought that be a lesson learnt.
“However, several weeks later, Ms Phang discovered what she believes to be a series of unauthorised transactions involving her accounts with two banks.
“She maintains that she had never disclosed her online banking username, password, or other login credentials to any third party,” Kong said.
Concerned by these developments, Kong said she lodged a police report and began making further inquiries into the transactions and the recipients of the funds.
“More alarmingly, Ms Phang subsequently discovered that a bank account with another bank had allegedly been opened using her personal details without her knowledge or authorisation.
“If this is indeed the case, it raises serious concerns regarding the possible misuse of an individual’s identity to open a bank account.
“Such allegations, if proven, have significant implications not only for the victim concerned but also for public confidence in the security of our banking and financial systems.
“I will be assisting Ms Phang in bringing this matter to the attention of Ryt Bank so that a thorough investigation can be carried out into the circumstances surrounding the opening of the account.
“At the same time, I urge Bank Negara Malaysia and the relevant enforcement authorities to look into this matter comprehensively. It is important to establish how the alleged unauthorised account was opened, whether all necessary verification procedures were properly complied with, and whether there are any systemic issues that require immediate attention,” Kong said.
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