Machang businessman cheated of RM140,000 in Macau Scam

KOTA BHARU: A businessman in his 20s from Machang was duped out of RM140,679 by Macau Scam syndicate members posing as Telekom Malaysia (TM) staff and police officers.

Kelantan police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Shafien Mamat said the victim received a phone call from a person posing as TM staff on Feb 11, claiming that the victim's identity had been used to register a line used in cyber crime cases before being connected to two suspects posing as police officers with the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector.

The victim was deceived into believing that a further probe by 'police' found that he was also involved in a money laundering case involving an investment syndicate where RM400,000 from the victim’s account was transferred to an individual's bank account.

"The victim denied his involvement was advised to seek the help of ‘ACP Datuk Mohd Fazley’ who promised to help the victim who was also instructed to submit internet banking details such as username and password as well as ATM card and TAC numbers,” said DCP Shafien in a statement on Monday (Feb 21).

DCP Shafien said the victim was also tricked into revealing his mother’s bank account, purportedly to assist the investigation to confirm her involvement in investment and money laundering.

"The victim found that 15 transactions amounting to RM140,679 were made from both his and his mother’s account between Feb 11 to 15 without their knowledge," said DCP Shafien.

"The suspects claimed that the money was temporarily transferred to Bank Negara for investigation and would be returned, causing the victim to feel suspicious when the suspect advised him to apply for a bank loan,” he added, saying that the victim lodged a police report on Feb 15 and the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

"I would like to remind the public to be more vigilant when it comes to Macau Scam syndicates which are constantly changing their characters by impersonating officials from banks, Inland Revenue Board, and courts,” he said.

The term “Macau Scam” was coined because it is believed that it originated from Macau or that the first victims came from there. This has never been confirmed.

The scam often starts with a phone call from someone pretending to be an officer from a bank, government agency or debt collector.

The scammer will then claim that the potential victim owes money or has an unpaid fine, often with a very short window of less than an hour, to settle the payment or face “dire consequences”.

These unsuspecting victims will then be asked to make payments to get them off the hook. - Bernama