State police chief Mazli Mazlan said the fraud occurred between March 19 and 21 in Kuala Terengganu.

He said the three victims, aged 30 to 60, were initially contacted by a man named “Izzuddin”, who pretended to be interested in buying a portable power station for office use.

He added that the victims then informed “Izzuddin” that their companies did not have the stock requested by him.

“The caller then suggested the name and phone number of a ‘supplier’ who could provide the product to the victims. The victims then contacted the ‘supplier’ to make an order and made the payments to the account number provided,” Mazli said in a statement.

He added that the “supplier” then contacted the victims, and informed them the equipment had been sent to the Kuala Nerus district education office.

However, he said, the victims became suspicious, and upon contacting the office found that there was no staff or officer named Izzuddin, and the tender related to the purchase also did not exist.

Mazli reminded the public to be careful with accepting offers, and to check with the relevant parties before making payments, apart from making a police report immediately if they were scammed.

“A total of 108 fraud-related police reports were received in the week beginning March 24. They involved a total loss of RM440,024.60,” he said.