KUANTAN: A Felda Kota Gelanggi 3 settler was made RM22,950 poorer after falling prey to a Macau Scam.
The 71-year-old discovered his depleted bank account, with only RM73.39 balance, upon checks on Monday, five days after receiving a call from a syndicate claiming that the victim was involved in a money laundering case.
Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the victim claimed to have transferred RM22,578 into his own bank account a few days prior to the incident.
He said the victim had received a call from a person who introduced herself as Inspector Balkis Mat Ali from Jerlun police district headquarters in Kedah on Aug 29.
“The woman told the victim that he was involved in a money laundering case and offered to assist the latter by blocking his bank account from being accessed by others.
“The victim then furnished his bank account details when asked by the caller and transferred RM22,578 to his own CIMB account (from a different bank account) upon receiving instruction for alleged monitoring purposes.
“On Monday, the victim, who wanted to withdraw money for a car monthly installment, was shocked to find that a total of RM22,950 from the account has vanished.
“When he asked a bank officer about the matter, the victim was told that he might have been duped, prompting him to lodge a police report at the Jerantut police headquarters,” he said in a statement today.
In a separate case on Tuesday, Mohd Wazir said a 33-year-old clerk in Cameron Highlands lost RM16,000 after being threatened by a Macau Scam syndicate who claimed that an arrest warrant was issued against the victim for arrears in bank loan.
He said the victim received a call from a woman who introduced herself as ‘Miss Veronica’ from Kuantan Court and claimed that an arrest warrant had been issued against her.
“Subsequently, the victim received another call from a man who introduced himself as Sergeant Micheal Lim from Kuantan Police contingent headquarters and later another call from an ‘Inspector Yong’.
“Inspector Yong ordered the victim to pay RM16,000 fee for verification process on the arrest warrant. The victim then transferred the requested amount to a bank account number furnished by the caller.
“The suspect then asked for another RM50,000 payment, which the victim refused. Instead, the victim lodged a police report at the Cameron Highlands district police headquarters yesterday,” he said.
The cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.