MUAR: A retiree lost close to RM400,000 after being duped by scammers who pretended to be an insurance agent, police officer and a deputy public prosecutor, respectively.
Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the 67-year-old man was made to believe that he was involved in a money laundering activity.
“On Dec 18, the victim received a phone call from an individual who pretended to be an insurance agent, police officer and deputy public prosecutor, claiming that the victim was involved in money laundering.
“He was then instructed to lodge a police report online and open a new bank account for a so-called investigation under Bank Negara.
“The man was later told to transfer RM400,000 from his account into the new account,” he said in a statement here.
He said that after making the transaction, the victim was instructed to transfer more money as bail and for legal fees.
“This made the victim suspicious, prompting him to check the new bank account, where he found only RM168 left,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
ACP Raiz Mukhliz urged the public, especially those familiar with the modus operandi of online scams, to remind those around them of the dangers posed by such scams.
