Accountant loses RM510,000 in diamond purchase scam (Updated)

GEORGE TOWN: An accountant who is supposed to be an expert on figures found himself on the receiving end of a syndicate who cheated him out of RM510,000 in a space of two days through an elaborate credit card scam.
The victim could not have imagined that he would have fallen prey to a syndicate because he was an expert on accounts.
In relating his ordeal, Lim Lye Bee, 53, who appeared with a face mask told a press conference that he lost a total of RM510,000 in a series of transactions from Oct 4 till Oct 5.
Lim related that everything began to unravel when he received a text message from an unknown number stating he had purchased a diamond priced at RM4,299 through his credit card.
Lim, who does not have a credit card with any local bank, then proceeded to call the same number for further inquiries and, he was told by the unidentified caller that his personal details might have been abused.
Without thinking much, he went on to call a "Bank Negara" number given by caller where he was informed that his particulars may have been wrongly abused
Lim said he was also asked by the "Bank Negara" officer on the other line to reveal all his bank account numbers to ensure his accounts would be closed for safety and security reasons.
Without suspecting anything amiss, he gave his all of his bank account numbers to the officer and he was also told to transfer a certain amount of money to the" Bank Negara" to be kept for safety.
He added he did not ask further as he was too worried back then and he heeded all of the instructions to deposit some money to "Bank Negara" account via a few transactions.
Subsequently, Lim was promised that he would get a passbook in return which showed all the transactions he made.
No such call came and soon, he began to suspect something amiss.
It then dawned on him that he could have been cheated.
"I have lodged a police report, he said where he was accompanied by state MCA Public Services and Complaint Bureau chief Gui Guat Lye.
Gui has urged the public to be vigilant and to not reveal any personal bank details to any parties over the phone.