IPOH: A retired bank officer in Taiping lost about RM1.4mil after falling victim to a phone scam.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Azizi Mat Aris said the 65-year-old woman was cheated by several individuals who claimed to be from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police.
Comm Azizi said the victim received a call from an unknown woman who introduced herself as being from MCMC, alleging that her bank card was involved in money laundering activities.
"The call was then transferred to another person who identified himself as Sjn Rabbani. The victim was later contacted by several others who claimed to be from the Terengganu police contingent," he said in a statement on Monday (Sept 16).
"The victim was instructed to open several new bank accounts for money to be transferred from her current bank account. Comm Azizi said the victim was also instructed to leave her bank automated teller machine cards in a specific location as provided by the scammers, which they claimed would be used to withdraw money for the purpose of investigations."
"The scammers also promised the victim that they would return the money to her. The victim later received messages on the withdrawals of money between Aug 23 and Sept 11," he said.
"She went to check with her bank later and found that her money had been transferred out," he said, adding that the matter is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
