Scammed: Teacher, school worker lose over RM80,000 in Sarawak

SIBU: A teacher and a school assistant administrator in Mukah lost a total of RM87,399 in two separate scams.

Mukah OCPD Dept Supt Muhamad Rizal Alias said in the first case, a 36-year old physical education teacher was at home when she received a call from a person who claimed to be an "officer from HSBC Bank" in Klang at about 11.30am on Oct 11.

The suspect, he said, told the victim that she had arrears of RM11,328 in her credit card incurred from online purchases.

"The victim denied it as she does not have a credit card. However, the suspect told her that someone might have used her name to register for the credit card," said DSP Muhamad Rizal.

The line was then connected to a person claiming to be an "officer from Bank Negara" who threatened that her bank account was being investigated by the police.

"Later, a person claiming to be an inspector by the name of 'Yap Chee Hong' asked her to give him her bank online username and TAC (Transaction Authorisation Code) to allow an investigation to take place on her account," he said.

After doing so, the victim found two transfers totalling RM19,199 being made from her account to two bank accounts.

DSP Muhamad Rizal said the suspect then told her to transfer all her money to another account. This was purportedly to allow the police to “reset” her account.

The victim realised she had been conned after seeing her account had been emptied.

In another case, a 38-year old school assistant administrator lost RM10,150 in a non-existent loan scheme.

DSP Muhamad Rizal said the woman had on Sept 30 saw an advertisement on a fast-approval loan scheme on her Facebook account.

"She contacted the phone number provided in the advertisement and was told by a suspect on the terms and conditions for the loan," he said.

The woman wanted to borrow RM40,000 but she was told to make a payment of RM10,150 for the processing fee.

Both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.