IPOH: A retired civil servant has been cheated of RM845,450 after falling victim to a phone scam.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the 74-year-old victim had been duped into believing she was under investigation for drug trafficking and money laundering by two “police officers” and a “Datuk”.
“The woman received a call at her home on May 9 and was first accused of having arrears with the Inland Revenue Board for a company that was registered in her name in Melaka.
“The call was then connected to the bogus cops, who alleged her of misdeeds.
“The call was then connected to the ‘Datuk’ who instructed the victim to adhere to his instructions, including to report to him all banking transactions from time to time,” he said.
The victim was told to transfer money via a cash deposit machine to 14 bank accounts belonging to different people between May 10 and 19.
“The ‘Datuk’ also urged the victim to sell her house and not tell anyone about it.
“The victim only became aware that she was scammed after being informed by a friend whom she had asked to look for a property agent to sell her house,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Comm Mohd Yusri said the case was now being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
He added that people should never divulge their personal information to strangers at any time.
“People should know that law enforcement agencies and financial institutions will not ask for their personal bank account details, nor will they tell them to make any transactions or payments into another person’s bank account.
“Those who have fallen victim to phone and cyber scams or had just made a transaction to a mule account can contact the National Scam Response Centre at 997,” he said, adding that the public can also call or contact via WhatsApp the Commercial Crime Investigation Department info-line at 013-211 1222 between 8am and 2pm.
For the latest information on scams, visit www.facebook.com/jsjkpdrm or www.facebook.com/cybercrimealertrmp.
The public can also check the status of bank accounts and contact numbers that are believed to be involved in scams at https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my.
