Warning over 'Macau' scamming syndicate

MALACCA: The public has been advised to be wary of a "Macau" syndicate whose members masquerade as police or bank officers via email to scam unsuspecting victims.

State police chief SAC Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said there were nine cases of cheating by the syndicate from January to September this year compared with 23 cases during the same period last year.

"The value of losses by victims rose from RM191,323.04 last year to RM564,760.40, an increase of 195%," he told a news conference at the state police headquarters in Bukit Beruang here Wednesday.

He said syndicate members, armed with confidential banking information, would inform their victims that Bank Negara Malaysia would be freezing their accounts for involvement in criminal actvities.

"The victims would be persuaded to 'park' their funds with accounts provided by the syndicate. By the time the victim became aware of the scam, it would be too late," he said. - Bernama