JEMPOL: A retired teacher lost nearly RM140,000 in a phone scam after being accused of tampering with electricity meters.
Jempol police chief Supt Hoo Chang Hook said the 68-year-old woman’s ordeal started on Aug 28 when she received a call from a woman claiming to be a Tenaga Nasional employee.
"The caller accused the victim of being involved in meter tampering activities in Kuantan.
"When the victim denied this, the call was apparently connected to a policeman supposedly working at the Pahang police contingent," he said in a statement.
Supt Hoo said the cop, who introduced himself as Fazli, then told the victim that police found 200 identity cards during a raid at a residential area in Kuantan, and one belonged to the victim.
When the victim again denied this, the call was transferred to one Asst Supt Datuk Yusri Hasan to allow the police to check the victim’s financial status.
"The so-called officer then advised the victim to move all her savings to different accounts to allow the police to conduct an audit and to confirm that she was not involved in money laundering activities.
"The victim then transferred her savings totalling RM138,800 into several bank accounts given by the so-called officer," he said.
Supt Hoo said despite transferring all her savings, the officer continued harassing her for more money, saying it was for documentation purposes.
The victim, who by then had become suspicious, decided to call the Pahang police contingent to get updates about her case but was told that she had been scammed.
The victim then lodged a report at the Bahau police station.
The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
