Woman cheated out of RM600,000 in phone scam

SIBU: A woman here was cheated of RM600,000 in a phone scam.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Sapri in a statement said the female civil servant, 40, lodged a police report on Sept 12 claiming that she had been cheated of that amount of money by a phone scam syndicate.

"In early August, the woman received a call from a man who disguised himself as from a courier company in Perak.

"The suspect told her that she had sent a parcel which contained several identity cards," he said.

When the woman denied it, the line was connected to a so-called Perak police station chief who scolded her for not cooperating with them.

"After that she received a message in her WhatsApp from another suspect who informed her that she was involved in money laundering," he added.

Azman said as the victim panicked, she followed all instructions from the suspect. She was also advised not to reveal anything to anyone.

She transferred RM20,000 to two accounts supposedly for 'Bank Negara' auditing.

Soon after that she was asked to deposit more money.

"She took out her savings and also secured bank loans,all totalling RM580,000. The money was transferred to five different bank accounts," he said.

The woman realised that she had been conned when the suspects could no longer be contacted.

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