SIBU: A septuagenarian in Miri lost about RM900,000 in a phone scam.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the 70-year-old woman had received a call in mid-January from a suspect who identified himself as a police officer from the Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) Penang.
"The suspect told the pensioner that she had been involved in a money laundering group and demanded her to make payments for the ongoing investigation to clear her name," he said in a statement on Friday (Feb 23)
She was convinced that her money would be returned to her once the investigation was completed.
The unsuspecting victim subsequently made 117 transactions to 21 different bank accounts from mid-January to February this year.
After making thorough checks with the local police station, she later learned that it was a phone scam.
