MIRI: A couple here has fallen victim to a credit card scam, resulting in the unauthorised transfer of more than RM120,000 from their accounts.
The funds were reportedly used to top up an unknown individual’s Touch ‘n Go account.
The retiree, 68, and his insurance agent wife, 67, first became aware of the fraud on June 28 when the latter’s credit card was declined while trying to pay for road tax.
Upon contacting the bank, she was informed that her credit limit had been exceeded, even though she had not authorised any transactions.
The couple attended a press conference on today (Sept 9) at Pusat Komuniti Keadilan in Tanjong, where they shared their ordeal alongside Miri MP Chiew Choon Man.
The wife revealed that her attempts to clarify the issue with the bank were unsuccessful.
“I did not authorise any of the transactions, but the bank denied my requests for explanations,” she said. When she attempted to use another card, the same issue occurred, prompting her to investigate further.
She soon discovered a series of unauthorised transactions, all directed towards topping up a Touch ‘n Go app account.
The total amount lost was RM120,724.09 across two credit cards and two debit cards from two different banks.
Four police reports have since been lodged at Miri Central Police Station.
Chiew expressed concern over the case, noting that such scams have become more common.
“The modus operandi here is the fraudulent use of credit cards to top up Touch ‘n Go accounts,” Chiew said. He pledged to assist the couple in pursuing their case.
The wife also mentioned that the bank claimed to have sent transaction authorisation codes (TACs) to her phone, but she never received them.
Chiew highlighted potential security flaws in the system, particularly regarding how TACs are sent and processed.
“There are various standard operating procedures (SOP) among banks. Some call to verify transactions, while others rely on TACs sent via SMS.
“However, we’re seeing cases where the TACs are not received by the victims due to potential hacking of their phones,” Chiew explained.
He urged Bank Negara to standardise security measures across all financial institutions, suggesting that banks adopt app-based authorisation processes to enhance safety.
“We need a clear SOP to address suspicious transactions, and banks should take responsibility for ensuring the security of their clients’ accounts,” Chiew added.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which covers cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
Chiew also pointed out that this was not an isolated incident, citing similar cases from West Malaysia.
He stressed the importance of raising awareness about these types of scams and urged individuals to take extra precautions to safeguard their accounts.
