MUAR: A 42-year-old woman working as a clerk lost her entire savings of ₹63.5 lakh (RM277,445.65) after being lured into a part-time job scam that promised commissions for completing online hotel bookings.
The victim encountered the fraudulent offer on July 29 while searching for remote job opportunities through a search engine. She followed a link that led her to a supposed recruiter from “HR HotelRunner,” a fake entity claiming to hire people for online hotel booking tasks. The woman was then added to a WhatsApp group named “BookAssist Marketing GRP,” where she received assignments involving hotel reservations.
To proceed with each task, she was instructed to make upfront payments and was promised commissions between 10 and 35 per cent. After completing her first booking, the victim received a small commission, which built her confidence in the scheme.
Escalating transactions wiped out the victim’s savings
According to Muar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz, the woman carried out 44 transactions involving 13 different bank accounts, losing a total of ₹63.5 lakh (RM277,445.65). The payments were said to be essential for task completion.
The fraud was uncovered when the woman was told to pay an additional fee to withdraw her accumulated earnings. Her refusal to make the final payment and her growing doubts about the legitimacy of the offer prompted her to lodge a police complaint on August 2.
Police have initiated an investigation under Section 420 of the Malaysian Penal Code, which covers cheating and carries penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, whipping, and fines upon conviction.
Authorities noted that the scam mirrors tactics seen in the rising wave of “hotel runner” frauds, where criminals pose as job recruiters on platforms like Google, WhatsApp, or LinkedIn. After luring victims with promises of high returns, they demand continuous payments under the guise of booking or review-based assignments. Small early payouts are often used to build credibility before demanding larger sums.
The name “HR HotelRunner” appears to impersonate a real hotel tech firm, HotelRunner. However, there is no confirmed connection between the scam and the legitimate company.
Police have urged the public to verify companies and job listings before transferring money and to stay updated through official police social media accounts.