Recently, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across a lot of phone shop ads in my stories. Many were promoting unbelievable offers on popular smartphones. The deals looked too good to ignore — and that’s where my mistake started.
One particular shop caught my eye. I checked their Instagram page, scrolled through their posts, and then messaged them on WhatsApp to ask about the promotions. Right away, something felt suspicious. They were selling Samsung Galaxy S21 for only RM150, and newer models like the Galaxy S22 and S23 were priced between RM400 to RM600.
Even though I was doubtful, I asked about the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (256GB), and they offered it for RM480. When I asked for their shop’s location, they kept giving unclear answers and avoided naming an exact branch. Despite the warning signs, I transferred the money.
After payment, they sent pictures of the phone being packed, making it seem believable. But the next day, I got a call from a “courier service” claiming I had to pay RM1,500 for customs clearance before delivery. That’s when I realized I had been scammed.
To make it worse, someone pretending to be a police officer contacted me, saying if I didn’t pay the RM1,500, I could face legal trouble. I immediately blocked both the seller and the fake courier.