Terengganu technician loses RM58,500 in scam promising Indonesia export approval

KUALA TERENGGANU, Aug 7 — A women technician lost RM58,500 after falling victim to a scam offering to obtain a Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) certificate for the purpose of exporting products to Indonesia.

Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said on March 23, 2024, the 38-year-old victim saw an advertisement related to Jom Eksport Ke Indonesia on Wan Muhd Ali’s Facebook social page.

He said the victim, who was interested, contacted the suspect and was added to the Pt-Laara Star World WhatsApp group to be given information on how to export products to Indonesia, in addition to an online briefing via the Zoom application on May 7, 2024.

“The suspect invited the victim to participate in the Trip Titian Muhibbah programme for a fee of RM58,500 for the rental of an exhibition site and application for a BPOM certificate for kurkis, anchovies and smoked meat products in Indonesia.

“BPOM is an Indonesian government agency that functions almost the same as the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA) in terms of product regulation. For Malaysian companies wishing to export food or health products to Indonesia, BPOM registration or approval is usually required depending on the type of product,” he said in a statement today.

Azli said the victim, who was excited to build a business network abroad, had made a payment totalling RM58,500 using her savings, but began to feel suspicious when she failed to obtain the BPOM certificate after waiting for so long.

He said the suspect also often pressured the victim to make additional payments supposedly to speed up the approval of the BPOM certificate which was in the final stages.

“After many years, the victim could no longer be patient and finally lodged a police report at 12.54pm yesterday. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” he said. — Bernama