JOHOR BARU: A businesswoman here lost over RM1 million after she fell victim to a Macau scam.
Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the victim, 50, was contacted by the suspect who impersonated an Internal Revenue Board officer, in the middle of May.
"The suspect told the victim that there is an outstanding tax under the name of a company owned by the victim.
"Believing the suspect, the victim then followed the suspect's instruction and made 23 transactions through the cash deposit machines to 16 different bank accounts totalling RM900,000.
"She then handed over her online banking access to the suspect," said Kamarul Zaman in a statement.
He said on July 16, the victim checked her account and found that seven more transactions totalling RM122,300 had been made to several unknown parties.
"Suspecting that she had been duped, the victim lodged a police report on the same day. The losses suffered by the victim amounted to RM1.022 million," said Kamarul Zaman.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
"The investigation will also include checking whether there is any involvement of account mules. Action will be taken against the owners of these accounts."