JEMPOL: A retired female teacher has suffered a loss of RM138,800 after falling victim to a phone scam.
Jempol district police chief, Superintendent Hoo Chang Hook, said that initial investigations revealed the 68-year-old victim was contacted by an individual impersonating a representative from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), named Maliza Ibrahim, on Aug 27.
He said that the victim was informed about an application to modify an electricity meter in the Kuantan area of Pahang.
"However, the victim denied any such application, after which the call was transferred to someone impersonating a police officer from the Pahang Contingent Police Headquarters named Fazli.
"The victim was then informed that the police had found 200 MyKads, including the victim's, in a house in Taman Tas, Kuantan. The victim once again denied this and the call was subsequently transferred to an individual impersonating an Assistant Superintendent of Police known as Datuk Yusri Hasan Basri, who then conducted a financial check on the victim," he said.
Hoo said that the victim was asked to transfer all the money from her account for auditing purposes to ensure her savings were clean and not involved in money laundering.
"Believing this explanation, the victim transferred a total of RM138,800 into several bank accounts provided to her gradually.
"After making the transfers, the victim continued to be harassed, including being asked for additional payments for documentation. Feeling suspicious, she then called the Pahang IPK and was informed that she had been scammed.
"The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code," he said.