KUANTAN: Tricked into believing that the authorities were going to investigate him for money laundering and corruption, a 60-year-old retiree changed his bank account details to protect his savings.
He then ended up losing RM28,200 of his hard-earned savings to the Macau Scam syndicate.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf today said the victim received a phone call from an individual impersonating as a police officer last month.
"Besides the policeman, the victim spoke to a 'court officer' and an 'officer' from the 'Attorney-General's Chambers'. The 'officers' claimed that the victim was involved in money laundering and corruption involving some RM1.5 million.
"The victim, who assumed the call was genuine, had followed the caller's instructions. He changed his bank account details as told by the suspects, and later realised RM28,200 was missing from his account."
He said the victim had lodged a police report in Kuantan and the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping, and a fine if convicted.
Ramli reminded the public not to panic when contacted by unknown individuals claiming to be enforcement officers as the authorities would never conduct investigations through phone calls.
"Contact the police to verify information shared by a third party or unknown callers through the phone. Do not share any banking information with strangers," he said.