JOHOR BAHRU (ANN/THE STAR) – A 75-year-old male fell prey to a phone scam and suffered a loss exceeding MYR540,000, according to Johor police chief Commissioner Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat.
The incident transpired when he received a call via WhatsApp in November. According to Commissioner Kamarul Zaman, the victim became ensnared in the scam after connecting with an individual posing as a senior police officer.
The imposter asserted that the victim had a criminal record, inducing a sense of fear and urgency. Subsequently, the victim was informed of an impending arrest and remand linked to the alleged criminal history.
In compliance with the imposter’s directives, the victim filed an online report and diligently followed all provided instructions.
Driven by apprehension, the victim adhered to the scammer’s guidance by withdrawing his savings and transferring the funds to another bank account. Additionally, he complied with the request to leave his ATM card and PIN number at a designated location.
“The victim said that he lost more than MYR540,000 after being cheated through a phone scam. He said that he received a call last November through WhatsApp,” he said.
Comm Kamarul Zaman also said initially the victim was not suspicious but early this month, he checked his bank account and found his money has been transferred to several individuals that he did not know.
He added that the victim then lodged a police report which is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Comm Kamarul Zaman said said that the public should be more vigilant when getting calls from unknown individuals, adding that the latest information on scams is available at the police’s Commercial Crimes social media platforms,
He added that if a person has become a scam victim, they should immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 as an early action to stop cash from flowing out of bank accounts.
