Retired teacher in Perak loses RM585,904 to scam caller

IPOH: A retired teacher in Hutan Melintang lost RM585,904 after getting a scam phone call about a hospital insurance claim.

Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the victim, 59, had on Jan 14, received a call from an unknown caller, allegedly informing that she has an unresolved insurance claim at a private hospital in Ampang that amounted to about RM68,800.

"The victim denied that she had the arrears as she had already stopped paying insurance since February 2022.

"The victim was then asked to lodge a police report to deny the claim and was 'connected' to a police officer for investigation purposes," he said in a statement on Wednesday (April 5).

"The victim was also instructed not to inform her family about it," he said.

Comm Mohd Yusri said the victim was then requested to transfer RM585,904 to another personal bank account and she did so out of fear and panic.

"She also gave her bank's automated teller machine card information to the unknown caller," he said, adding that the money included her savings, pension and loan.

"She only realised that she had been scammed while trying to withdraw money some time later.

"A police report was lodged on Monday (April 3) at about 9.30am," he added.

Comm Mohd Yusri said the people should always take precautionary steps to avoid being victims of such phone scams.

"Do not accept calls or messages from unknown numbers.

"We encourage people to use the WhosCall app to identify an unknown number's identity," he said, adding that people should not panic when receiving a call from a scammer.

"Enforcement agencies in Malaysia will not call to threaten you and to 'settle' outside.

"Be sure to check with the relevant agencies or department for verification," he added.

He also said the people should also inform their spouses or family members about such calls to get their views or call the National Scam Response Centre's hotline at 997 to lodge a report or get advisory services.

"Importantly, do not share any banking information under any circumstances when asked by unknown persons to transfer money to a bank account.

"One can also check the bank account on the semakmule.rmp.gov.my portal or download the (SemakMule) app," he added.