KUALA LUMPUR: Scams are evolving — syndicates are now using victims to commit fraud.
This modus operandi was uncovered in October when a bank officer, who was scammed three months earlier, was ordered to meet another victim to collect RM100,000 from him.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said on Oct 28, a company executive lodged a report in Kuala Lumpur after allegedly being cheated of RM138,000.
"The 37-year-old man claimed he received a call from an e-commerce platform in mid-October claiming that his phone number had been used in the sale of prohibited items.
"The victim denied any involvement. He was then connected to another individual who claimed to be police," he said on Tuesday.
He said the victim was ordered to transfer RM38,000 to a bank account and meet someone to hand over RM100,000.
"He met a woman and handed over the cash to here. She transferred the cash to four bank accounts.
"Based on our investigations, we identified and arrested the 30-year-old woman, a bank officer."
He said investigations revealed that the woman was a victim of the same scam syndicate.
He said during interrogation, the woman told police she was contacted by the syndicate in August and ordered to report to them every three hours.
"They directed her to take out a RM89,000 bank loan and transfer the money to an account number they provided to her.
"The syndicate then ordered her to meet the company executive and collect RM100,000 from him and bank in the cash to four accounts."
Ramli said police had identified and frozen the bank accounts involved.
"Our investigators are tracking down the account holders and will arrest them."
He said this case showed the lengths that scam syndicates would go to dupe victims.
"The syndicate pressured her, made her live in fear for three months and forced her to do their bidding.
"Scam syndicates play psychological games with their victims to get their way."
He urged the public to be cautious when dealing with anyone over the phone.