KUALA LUMPUR: An elderly woman recently lost RM670,994.00 in cash, jewellery, gold dinar coins and gold bars to scammers.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the pensioner, 72, received a call on Sept 20 from an individual claiming to be from the customer service unit in Putrajaya.
"The caller claimed that the victim's phone number was reportedly misused in a cybercrime case, therefore, she needed to apply for personal data protection and fund protection.
"The call was then transferred to a 'police officer', who informed the victim that she was involved in a money laundering case.
"For 'investigation purposes', the victim was told to consolidate all her savings into a bank account under her name, with the banking information for the account then provided to the 'police'.
"The victim was directed to hand over all her jewellery and gold bars (and coins) to an individual who came to collect all the items from her home," he said in a statement today.
In total, the victim suffered losses of cash, jewellery, gold dinar coins and gold bars valued at RM670,994.00.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
According to Ramli, between 2021 and 2023, 86,266 individuals have fallen victim to online fraud.
"Of this number, 5,533 victims, or 6.4 per cent, were individuals aged 61 and above, classified as senior citizens.
"A similar figure was recorded this year, where out of 21,535 online fraud cases reported until August, 1,916 victims, or 8.9 per cent were senior citizens.
"Although the number of victims among senior citizens is small compared with other age groups, the value of losses suffered by them is high, making them a quality target."
Ramli said that between 2021 and 2023, the total losses recorded from online fraud cases amounted to RM2,768,396,952.
"Of this total, the losses involving senior citizen victims were RM552,512,422, or 20 per cent.
"A similar trend continued this year. By August, losses involving senior citizen victims had reached RM255,367,680, accounting for 27.9 per cent of the total losses recorded, which amounted to RM914,051,236."
Given these findings, Ramli stressed the need for prevention education focused on commercial crime, especially online fraud.
"Family members must advise parents, siblings or acquaintances to always be alert and not to trust any suspicious call from any government or private agency.
"Believing and following all instructions received over the phone can put victims at risk, especially if they disclosed their address or residence location to criminals.
"For verification purposes, it is best to check with the agencies involved by contacting them through phone numbers obtained from their official websites."
Ramli said online fraud could be prevented and avoided if victims were educated and aware of the potential of such crimes.
"Every individual in the community needs to play a role in raising awareness about commercial crime, so we can build a safer community and reduce the risk of becoming victims of scammers."