File photo for illustration
SIBU: A 36-year-old businessman from Cheku Road, here, has lodged a police report claiming that he had ordered 20,000 boxes of face masks worth about RM266,000 for a friend in Singapore but they never arrived.
Sibu police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said based on the police report, the incident happened on Feb 9 at 7pm here, when the complainant received a call from his Singaporean friend surnamed Low who asked for his assistance to buy face masks.
Low told the complainant that face masks had been sold out in Singapore due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), he said.
“The complainant then posted on his Facebook account searching for face masks seller and he received a reply from a man who sold the face masks at SG$14 per box.
“He then ordered 20,000 boxes costing SG$88,690 (about RM266,153) before he informed Low that payment needed to be made to a Singapore bank account,” he said in a statement today.
Low informed the complainant after he transferred the payment online but until today, the face masks have not arrived, Stanley said.
“The suspect’s motive is to deceive the complainant to convince his friend to make payment for the purchase of non-existent items.
“The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” he said