BUKIT MERTAJAM: A retired factory worker lost RM618,302.58 after being cheated by a Macau scam syndicate that claimed she was involved in money laundering activities in an incident last month, but she only realised yesterday that all the money in her account was gone.
Seberang Perai Tengah district police chief ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the 66-year-old victim was at home in Seberang Jaya when she received a phone call from a woman claiming to be from the ‘Pos Laju’ Kuala Lumpur, in the incident at 9am on Dec 11.
The victim said the call was then connected to the Pahang police contingent headquarters and a man who identified himself as Sergeant Cheong claimed to have reviewed the victim’s information and found the woman to be involved in money laundering before the call was connected to another man who identified himself as Sergeant Ang.
Nik Ros Azhan said Sergeant Ang informed the woman that she must make a police report in order for an investigation to be carried out.
“The suspect asked the victim to open a new account at a bank for online banking and the password was given to the suspect for the purpose of investigation by Bukit Aman. The woman claimed that she had deposited the money gradually into her new account from Dec 13 to Dec 26,“ he said.
The victim realised that she had been cheated after checking her new account and found it empty.
Further investigation was still ongoing including detecting the owners of the accounts which were used by the syndicate to transfer money from the victim’s account and the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, he said.
Meanwhile, in Kuantan, fear of being arrested caused a senior citizen to be trapped in a Macau scam, claiming a loss of RM105,000 in savings.
Pahang Commercial CID chief Supt Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the 75-year-old woman claimed she received a WhatsApp message purportedly from police from the Penang police contingent headquarters on Dec 24.
The male suspect said to be a Corporal had alleged informed the victim that there was an order for her arrest and freezing of her assets which were to be executed at any time.
“The victim admitted to being scared when she heard the word arrest prompting her to comply with the suspect’s order to put RM30,000 into the account given by him as an assurance that the arrest was put off.
“The suspect continued to send WhatsApp messages asking for more money which resulted in the victim making four more money transfers to different accounts totaling RM105,000,“ he told reporters, here today.
Mohd Wazir said the suspect also allegedly ordered the victim to burn all the bank transaction receipts purportedly for security purposes until a new order was issued.
The victim, however, claimed the suspect did not contact her again after she last made a bank transaction on Jan 16, causing her to suspect the validity of the arrest order.
Subsequently, the victim lodged a report at the Cameron Highlands district police headquarters (IPD) and the investigation was conducted under Section 420 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping and could be fined, if convicted.
In Butterworth, a manager of a catering company lost RM153,180 after being cheated by a Macau scam syndicate alleging the man had been involved in money laundering and drug trafficking, here recently.
Seberang Perai Utara district police chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said the 47-year-old man received a call from a man claiming to be a court officer and said the victim had been involved in money laundering and drug trafficking.
“The call was later linked to a man, purportedly a police officer from Bukit Aman, who identified himself as Raja Afiq, and was willing to help the victim, but the manager must follow his instructions.”
The man who was afraid and worried about being arrested had transferred his money to several temporary accounts given by the man claiming to be a police officer for investigation purposes and prevent the money in his account from being frozen.
He said the man admitted that money was his savings and the victim did not tell anyone about it as the suspect had warned and threatened him against telling his family members or anyone.
He said further investigations were ongoing including finding the suspects involved in the syndicate and the owners of the accounts used to transfer the victim’s money, and the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. - Bernama
