Macau scammers targeting haj pilgrimage funds

KUALA LUMPUR: Macau scam syndicates are now withdrawing haj pilgrimage funds linked to conventional bank accounts of their victims.

The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has already detected 65 such cases involving losses of nearly RM3.6mil.

Federal CCID director Comm Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said the police have warned the public of these scams.

“Based on investigations, these activities are being conducted by Macau scam syndicates.

“They will make calls and intimidate the victims with allegations of involvement in criminal activities and outstanding credit card debts, among others,” he said yesterday.

He said the syndicate would then ask the victims to disclose their banking information as a means of clearing their “wrongdoing”.

“We have now detected cases where the syndicates have withdrawn money from a Tabung Haji account linked to a conventional bank account belonging to the victim.

“The convenience of Internet banking has made this possible,” he said, adding that investigations revealed the victim involved had provided banking information to an unknown individual over the phone.