KLUANG: A pensioner lost RM140,000 after he was duped into surrendering his automated teller machine card along with its security PIN by a scammer impersonating the police last month.
The episode began when the 74-year-old victim received a call on June 24 from the scammer, who claimed to be the police and accused the senior citizen of being involved in money laundering.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh said the victim was told to make a payment of RM2,000 to settle the case.
The victim however told the suspect that he did not know how to make the money transfer to make the payment.
"The victim was then instructed to hand over his ATM card enclosed with its security PIN, pack the items, and leave the package at the children's playground near his house," he said in a statement yesterday.
On July 1, the victim received a call from the same person who instructed a senior citizen to deposit a sum of money into his bank account for unspecified reasons.
"He complied since the victim was threatened with being arrested if he refused to do so.
"The victim went to a bank here and deposited RM140,000 into his bank account," Bahrin said.
Several days later, the victim checked his bank account only to find that RM140,000 had been withdrawn using the ATM machine.
Realising that he had been duped, the victim proceeded to lodge a police report on July 21.
Bahrin said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.