KUANTAN: A retiree lost RM260,950 of her savings last month after being tricked by scammers into leaving her debit card and personal identification number at an undisclosed location.
The 61-year-old victim from Lipis was deceived by two individuals impersonating officers from the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) and the police.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the victim received a phone call on Sept 29 from someone claiming to be an NSRC officer, alleging that she was involved in online gambling and money-lending activities.
"The call was then transferred to another individual claiming to be a police officer, who informed the victim that an arrest warrant had been issued against her.
"The suspect alleged that checks revealed RM1.18 million in cash had been deposited into her bank account.
"On Oct 27, the suspect instructed the victim to transfer RM120,000 from her Tabung Haji savings into her personal account," he said in a statement today.
He added that the woman was informed that the National Audit Department would investigate her bank account and was instructed to leave her debit card and personal identification number at a designated location without meeting anyone.
Yahaya said the victim realised she had fallen prey to a phone scam after discovering multiple transfers, amounting to RM260,950, had been made from her personal account to an unknown account.
She lodged a police report yesterday. He said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He also advised the public to be extra careful when receiving calls from strangers with weird instructions to transfer money or surrender their bank accounts details.