Unfortunate circumstances led to a 55-year-old woman from Bercham suffering a sad loss of over RM470,000 — after falling victim to a deceptive phone scam.
Perak police chief, Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, disclosed that the victim was deceived by a group of individuals who impersonated insurance agents, police officers, and even a lawyer. The distressing saga began on January 25 when the unsuspecting victim received a call from an unidentified person claiming to be an insurance company representative. This imposter falsely informed her about an impending insurance claim of RM78,000.
This initial contact set the stage for a series of deceitful interactions. Just six days later, another call came through, this time from an individual posing as a police officer hailing from the Ampang police district headquarters. The faux officer instructed the victim to report the non-existent insurance claims. Little did she know that this was only the beginning of her nightmare.
The situation took a darker turn when the call was transferred to a third suspect, masquerading as a lawyer. This fictitious legal expert informed the victim that she had unknowingly become entangled in a money laundering case. Fearing the worst, the victim followed instructions closely.
On February 3, two more individuals impersonating police officers called the victim. They guided her on how to transfer her hard-earned money for ‘safekeeping.’ Consequently, she withdrew substantial sums from Amanah Saham and Tabung Haji, totaling approximately RM458,000, all of which were transferred into the suspects’ bank accounts. In addition, the victim conducted five transactions, amounting to RM35,000, into three separate accounts as directed by a sixth suspect who claimed it was to settle ‘criminal offense’ compounds.
It wasn’t until August 25 that the victim discovered the truth. She received a notification from her bank detailing a staggering 17 transactions totaling RM438,225 that had occurred between February 9 and March 28. In total, the victim suffered a devastating loss of RM473,225.
Despite numerous police initiatives aimed at raising awareness about phone scams, including prevention talks, media outreach, warnings, and establishing the special 997 phone line, these scams continue to persist. This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced knowledge and vigilance within our communities. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital age, highlighting the importance of staying vigilant against such fraudulent schemes.
For individuals who suspect they have fallen prey to phone or cyber scams, the national scam response center hotline at 997 is readily available. Inquiries can also be made via WhatsApp at 013-2111222 between 8 am and 8 pm.
To stay informed about current fraud trends, visit www.Facebook.com/jsjkpdrm or www.facebook.com/cybercrimealertrmp. Additionally, the public can use https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my to check for bank accounts and mobile numbers possibly involved in fraud cases.
