BAHAU: An assistant pharmacist of a health clinic here lost more than RM21,000 after phone scammers fleeced her into believing she was under police investigations for money laundering.
The 55-year-old mother-of-three was at work on Monday when she received a call at about 11.45am from a man claiming to be an officer from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) .
The man alleged that the victim owed the IRD over RM38,000 due from a company owned by her.
Jempol police chief Supt Hoo Chang Hook (pix) said when the woman told the man that she did not own a company, the call was “transferred to the Kuantan district police headquarters” where she was put through to two “police sergeants.”
He said the bogus “sergeants” told the woman that her bank accounts will soon be frozen as she is believed to be involved in money laundering activities.
Hoo said a third “police officer” then spoke to her and told her that her bank statement was found at the home of a criminal.
He said the man told her to speak to a “Datuk” and subsequently a man claiming to be a police assistant commissioner took over the call and demanded she reveal the bank card numbers of three banks so that he could verify with Bank Negara if she was involved in money laundering.
Hoo said soon after, the victim received a text message on her phone from her bank that revealed cash had been withdrawn from her account.
“The woman then checked all her bank accounts and learnt that a total of RM21,250 had been withdrawn from it. She lodged a police report on realising she had been scammed,” Hoo told theSun.
“When handling such scam calls, do not panic. Check with the relevant authorities and do not share personal information. This can happen to anyone and everyone should be aware of such con jobs so that they do not fall victim. Please be aware that white-collar crimes are on the rise in our country,“ he said.
