Conman cheats 15 out of RM2.5m

IPOH: Fifteen people lost RM2.5 million to a conman in his 30s who claimed he supplied tree seedlings, drones and upgrades nurseries for the Forestry department.
Spokesman for the group, Aznol Rizal Fatah Karim, 39, said they paid between RM34,000 and RM150,000 to the man who also promised them returns and secure contracts from the department.
His modus operandi is - he introduces himself as Mohd Faiz Shuhaimi from Taman Rapat Setia Baru and a broker.
He then produces a signed document from the department's assistant director Mohd Hizamari Mohd Yasin.
"The documents with department letterhead named our companies as contractors. He then told us that he supplied tree seedlings, drones and upgrades nurseries for the department. He also assured to secure contracts for us from the Forestry Department," said Aznol Rizal.
The man, he added, initially took money from them, gave some returns and retained some of the money stating it was for future investment.
"We became suspicious when no returns came. We checked with the department and found it was all a lie as there was no such documents nor contracts," he said, adding that the man had a contract with the department but was sacked due to unsatisfactory work.
"So far 12 police reports have been lodged. We believe there are many more who have been cheated by him," said Aznol who lost RM120,000 in the scam.
Aznol Rizal said the scam was then posted in the Facebook which saw many coming out to tell they too had fallen victims to the man.
"What we learnt from friends is that the man had gambled with the money," he added.
Another victim, Safaruddin Ari, 50, said the man had introduced him to a person identified as the department's assistant director in charge of silviculture on Dec 7 last year.
"The so called official told me everything is in order and genuine. I lost RM148,000 within two weeks," he added.