SHAH ALAM: Members of the public are urged to contact the nearest police station if they receive a phone call from anyone claiming to be a cop and asking for money from them.
The advice from Shah Alam police came following a hike in reports of phone scam in the city since last month, which saw many falling victims to conmen impersonating as police.
Shah Alam police chief Assistant Commissioner Shafien Mamat said they received at least 50 reports on phone scam between October 1 and Tuesday (Nov 28).
"The number of reports lodged recently was quite high, and based on victims' statements, these scammers are bold and even go as far as impersonating police officers besides the usual tactics of offering gifts and promotions.
"Before this, many cases were found to involve impersonation of bank officers. But now the scammers have shifted to this tactic," he said when met after the district police monthly gathering here today.
Shafien said investigation revealed that the scammers would tell that their victims they were in trouble with the law for either being involved in hit-and-run accidents or have outstanding summonses, among others.
"Although they did not commit any of the offences, the victims were usually pressured until they become scared and finally give in to the scammers' demands including transferring money."
He said police believed that the scammers usually work in a group, as the victims would have their phone calls transferred to different persons claiming to be 'higher ranking police officers', to make their scam sounds legitimate.
Shafien said the public should contact the nearest police station if they received such call.