51-year-old woman arrested over TikTok baby adoption scam

The Penang Southwest District Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) arrested a 51-year-old woman involved in illegal baby adoption scam conducted through TikTok yesterday.

“A 51-year-old woman has been arrested by the Southwest District Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) for being an ‘account mule’ in a scam involving online adoption through a non-existent TikTok application related to the Balik Pulau report,” said the Penang Southwest District police via a Facebook post.

According to the Penang Southwest District Police, one of the victims was defrauded of RM9,000 in the scam.

Reports indicate that the victim made multiple bank transfers to various accounts in an attempt to adopt a child.

The victim reported the scam to the police after realising it might be fraudulent.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. Section 420 of the Penal Code targets fraudulent schemes where individuals exploit others through deceit to unlawfully obtain property or money.

Recently, scammers have been targeting childless couples on TikTok.

They exploit victims’ desperation for children with false promises, swindling them out of thousands of ringgit.

After the scam was exposed, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching requested TikTok to take down the account used in the scam.