Student loses nearly RM9k

IPOH: A 22-year-old university student was left counting his los­s­es after scammers posing as delivery agents and law enforcement officers tricked him into handing over RM8,999 and gold jewellery worth about RM20,000.

However, police have arrested three local men believed to be members of an online scam syndicate linked to the case.

Perak police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the victim was contacted on July 31 by a person posing as a courier company representative, who claim­ed a parcel containing prohibited items had been sent in his name.

He said the call was then transferred to another person posing as a law enforcement officer, who accused the victim of being involved in money laundering.

“Fearing arrest and prosecution, the victim followed the syndicate’s instructions of transferring RM8,999 to several bank accounts.

“He was also told to place a gold necklace, ring, earrings and a bracelet, worth about RM20,000, on the wall of his house in Kampar,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Comm Mohd Alwi said the victim was told that the money and jewellery would be returned once the investigation was completed.

After realising that he had been scammed, the victim lodged a police report on Aug 1.

“Following intelligence gathe­ring by the Kampar district police commercial crime investigation division, police conducted five raids at locations in Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya, Hulu Kelang and Damansara on Aug 13.

“The raids resulted in the arrest of three local men aged between 32 and 45,” he said.

Comm Mohd Alwi said police also seized eight Simbox units, 11 Starlink units, 509 SIM cards, a laptop, two routers and five mobile phones.

He said the communication equipment was believed to have been used as a call gateway to facilitate communications for online scam syndicates believed to be operating from overseas.

“The devices were used by the syndicate to make it difficult for enforcement authorities to trace calls made by the online scam syndicate,” he said.

The three suspects have been remanded for four days from Aug 14 to 17.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years upon conviction.

Comm Mohd Alwi urged the public not to assist online scam syndicates by renting out residential premises or supplying communication equipment.

He also urged those with information on such activities to contact the nearest police station.

Comm Mohd Alwi thanked the media for their continued coope­ration in disseminating information and raising public awareness about online scams.