IPOH: A university student from Taiping lost about RM116,000 after falling victim to a phone scam.
Taiping OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Nasir Ismail said the 25-year-old victim received a call from a man who claimed to be a representative from the Chinese Embassy.
The caller alleged that her number was used to open bank accounts linked to money laundering activities on January 13 at about 1.05pm.
ACP Mohamad Nasir said the call was then supposedly connected to a police station in China, with another person on the line claiming to be a police officer and prosecutor.
This person requested her identity card number, address, and banking details.
"As the victim was in fear, she gave all the details as requested. The victim also transferred RM115,786 into different bank accounts between Jan 15 and Feb 4," he said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 9).
"On February 4, the victim was informed that the 'investigation' had been completed and she was told to go to the nearest police station to get a letter as 'proof of innocence'."
"The victim only realised she had been cheated when informed by the police at the station," he added, saying that the victim lodged a police report on Feb 5.
ACP Mohamad Nasir said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
"The public is advised not to be easily deceived by callers from unknown numbers," he said.
