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This story is shared by a man who alleges that a dubious Whatsapp group named “Nusantara” has collected thousands of ringgit in donations by pretending to be an investment vehicle called Dana Amanah.
Mr. Jamal is an elderly man who relies on his meager pension to get by. Unfortunately, he has become one of many victims of a dubious Whatsapp group called NUSANTARA, run by a person known only as “Alimah”.
This Whatsapp group periodically shares updates on a mysterious figure named Waluyo, a man who apparently is in charge of the Dana Amanah Khazanah Dynasty Nusantara, a trust fund allegedly backed by the Bank of Indonesia.
The Whatsapp admin periodically sends out appeals for donations to assist ‘Waluyo’ in his many activities, such as attending ‘official’ events where high-profile ‘presidents’ are supposedly in attendance.
Translated into english, the messages say:
“The presidential launch date and initial cash release will be held at the BI center in Yogyakarta. Any investors who have not registered will still be eligible to be recipients of the initial cash payments (via Bank Mandiri). Please don’t miss out on the opportunities that are still available. Regarding individual rights as the prospective recipients of the Dana Amanah Khazanah Dynasty Nusantara, we will follow international banking system procedures.”
After each donation is completed, the Whatsapp group admin shares a list of names of people who donated. Since there are dozens of donors and each donor sends between RM50-100, the total can come up to RM10,000 or more. The Whatsapp announcements promise an “initial cash release” to all participants who send in money to the trust fund. However, for Mr. Jamal, he has not received any money from them til today.
Image: The total number of donations can go up to RM10,000 or more.
“Letter” from Bank of Indonesia
To show ‘proof’ of Dana Amanah’s authenticity, the Whatsapp group admin shares photos of official letters allegedly signed by the Bank of Indonesia which appear to verify Dana Amanah as a legitimate investment vehicle.
A quick Google search reveals this group to be fake
However, a quick Google search reveals that on the Bank of Indonesia’s webpage, Dana Amanah does not exist. Furthermore, a Google search of Dana Amanah reveals that there is no official website, aside from some Youtube videos and an Instagram account.
Mr. Jamal’s suspicions were raised when he started to ask what the money was being used for, and was met with the same repeated answers. Subsequently, he was removed from the group.
Finally, he realized that he was a victim of a Whatsapp donation scam. He made a report to the police, but was told that there was nothing to be done. According to Mr. Jamal, the real beneficiary of the donations is allegedly a man named Othman Ali, whose bank account is the sole recipient of the donations.
How to spot a Whatsapp scam compared to a real charity organization:
So, how can you spot these treacherous scams instead of giving in?
- Beware of invitations from unfamiliar sources: Always exercise caution when joining new Whatsapp groups, especially those related to investments.
- Question suspicious requests: If someone starts asking for money out of the blue, proceed with extreme caution.
- Don’t be swayed by photos: Official ocuments and glowing testimonials might seem convincing, but don’t let them cloud your judgment. Photos can be faked, and documents can be photoshopped to change details like names, addresses, and contact numbers.
- Always do your own independent research: Before diving in headfirst, always perform a Google search, check with a financial advisor, or enquire at a bank to verify an offer.
A quick Google search can often reveal the truth behind these schemes, so don’t underestimate the importance of staying informed. And to all the pensioners out there, don’t let your golden years be tarnished by the deceitful tactics of online scammers. Stay safe on the internet!
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Read also: The Phone Number Matched The Police HQ” I was Targeted by a Scammer Pretending to Be From PDRM
“The Phone Number Matched The Police HQ” I was Targeted by a Scammer Pretending to Be From PDRM
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