CYBERCRIME syndicates are increasingly targeting children and teenagers through fake Robux sales, with one 13-year-old losing more than RM1,000 after attempting to buy virtual game currency worth just RM50.
The latest case has prompted Malaysia Community Crime Care (MCCC) Pahang to warn parents and guardians to remain vigilant against online fraud targeting young gamers.
MCCC Pahang chairman Daniel Khoo said the organisation recently received a report involving the teenager from Kuantan, who was deceived through a fraudulent Robux transaction.
“The scammers not only cheated the victim out of money but also threatened to sue the victim for RM20,000 if a police report was lodged, claiming the victim had defamed their company.
“They also used fake applications and websites designed to resemble legitimate sales platforms to deceive teenagers.
“Young people are being targeted because they are more easily persuaded by attractive offers and are less experienced in recognising the tactics used by cybercriminals,” Harian Metro reported him saying.
Khoo warned that the syndicates are not confined to Roblox but are also exploiting users of other online gaming platforms that use virtual currencies or digital credits.
He said scammers typically pressure victims into making additional payments by claiming they are required for taxes, account activation, verification fees or other fabricated charges.
The fraudsters also intimidate victims by threatening legal action if they refuse to comply or report the incident to the authorities.
“These are merely psychological tactics used by scammers to keep victims silent. Such threats are baseless, and victims should not be afraid to lodge a police report,” he said.
Khoo urged parents to educate their children about the dangers of online scams and to closely supervise their online purchases, while advising young gamers never to buy Robux, in-game currencies or digital items from unknown sellers or through social media platforms offering heavily discounted deals.
Khoo added that many of these scams involve funds being transferred to overseas bank accounts, making prompt reporting essential to improve the chances of tracing the money.
“When a police report is lodged in Malaysia, we hope the authorities can immediately work with international agencies such as Interpol to trace the bank accounts used by the scammers. Although international cooperation already exists, we hope it can be strengthened further because many scam cases involve bank accounts located overseas,” he said. – July 15, 2026
