KUANTAN, Sept 26: All it took was a phone call and eventually hard-earned savings of RM221,000 belonging to a former factory manager was transferred to fraudsters in a phone scam that began in May
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the 59-year-old woman was initially contacted by an individual posing as a hospital staff member, who alleged that she had made an insurance claim.
The call was then connected to someone, who purportedly claimed that he was a police sergeant. The man then accused her of being involved in illegal bank account transactions linked to money laundering and firearms purchases.
“The victim was threatened that a warrant of arrest would be issued if she failed to cooperate and was told to prepare bail of RM378,500.
“She then transferred her savings into her own bank account between Aug 1 and 9 and provided her bank card details to the suspect for investigation purposes,” he said in a statement today.
On Aug 27, the victim found her savings reduced to RM109.78 and realised she had been swindled after being asked to pay an additional RM150,000, Yahaya said.
He said the woman lodged a report at the Kuantan District Police Headquarters yesterday and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
— BERNAMA