Federal police secretary Noorsiah Saaduddin said the app was first introduced in 2020, allowing users to make purchases for goods or services through an e-wallet.

For each purchase, she said, users get to save up to 50% while receiving reward points which can be redeemed as goods, or cash to be credited into their bank accounts.

However, to use the app, users are required to deposit an undisclosed amount of money into the app.

“At the start, all transactions done through the app and the redemption of reward points went smoothly. However, towards the end of 2022, users started having issues with making purchases and redeeming points,” she said in a statement.

Noorsiah said the actual losses amounted to RM508,261.09. Police are probing the matter under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

She said that on Oct 25, the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry had raided the company behind the app.

“Police will continue their probe and collaborate with the ministry on action to be taken,” she said.

Last Friday, the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) said 80 victims had lodged police reports after falling prey to the alleged syndicate behind the app.

MHO secretary-general Hishamuddin Hashim said the people behind the app threw around the names of prominent individuals like royalty, religious leaders and high-ranking police officers to dupe its victims.