JB housewife loses RM298,500 in Macau scam

JOHOR BARU: A 62-year old housewife has lost RM298,500 in the latest Macau scam reported here after receiving calls about an outstanding loan.

Johor Commercial Crime chief Asst Comm Amran Md Jusin said the victim received the first call from a woman claiming to be an officer from Lembaga Tabung Haji on the morning of Nov 11.

“The victim was told she had an outstanding loan amounting to RM12,900," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 22).

ACP Amran said the victim denied that she owned the money and the calls were connected to several individuals, the last one being another woman who claimed to be “Chief Inspector Yong”.

He said the victim was directed by “Yong” to open a new bank account and register for Internet banking to facilitate the investigations.

ACP Amran said the victim, from Larkin near here, then deposited RM298,500 into the new account in several transactions from Nov 15 to Dec 14.

“Apart from withdrawing her Tabung Haji savings, she also withdrew hers and her husband's savings in another bank, (cashed in) her Amanah Saham Nasional investments, and pawned her jewellery worth RM10,000," he said.

ACP Amran added that the victim also shared her Internet banking details with "Yong", who promised that the money would be returned to her after the investigation was done.

He said the victim suspected something amiss when she failed to contact "Yong" and found that her savings were gone when she checked the account on Saturday (Dec 18).

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.