Businesswoman loses RM205k to 'Macau Scam'

PETALING JAYA: A businesswoman lost RM205,000 after falling victim to a Macau Scam.
The 50-year-old woman from Seremban transferred the money from her five bank accounts to several "secret accounts" she was told belong to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) staff for safe keeping before the central bank freezes her accounts as part of its sting operation to nab some bank staff who had leaked her personal information which was used to launder money.
The woman, identified only as Zhang in a report in China Press today, wanted the daily to highlight her case to warn others of the scam.
She said it all started with a call on July 17 in which a recorded message informed her that her credit card was used for a transaction involving RM3,000 at the KL International Airport.
As she was at home at the material time, she pressed "O" as instructed to speak to the bank.
She was told her identity had been stolen and she had to lodge a report with BNM.
She was given a number (1-800-81-8550) to call and eventually one Mok Kian Pai, purportedly a senior staff, "confirmed" that her identity was stolen.
Mok was able to recite her personal particulars, her car plate number and even had information that she was once hauled up for using her three shops in Ipoh for some illegal activities.
Mok sought her help to nab the culprits who leaked her personal information, which he suspected were from two banks. She was told to transfer all her money before her bank accounts were frozen when a police report was made, and stay tight lipped on her role in the operation.
She transferred the money between July 18 and 21, and when she could not reach Mok on July 25 for a meeting to make a police report as planned, she went to BNM headquarters and was told the central bank did not have such a person on its payroll.