MIRI: A retiree lost RM24,000 after falling victim to a phone scam involving the alleged ‘United Nations Compensation Fund’.
Miri police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu confirmed that a 70-year-old man filed a police report regarding the incident on Friday (Feb 9).
According to the victim, he received an email from an individual claiming to be a bank official and initiated the conversation on WhatsApp.
“In the conversation, the suspect claimed that funds totalling USD1.5 million from the ‘United Nations Compensation Fund’ would be transferred into the victim’s account.
“However, the victim was required to make various payments, including SST tax payments, transfer fees, clearance certificates, and payments to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB),” he said.
The victim complied with the instructions and transferred a total of RM24,000 across eight transactions into a third-party account from Feb 1 to Feb 7.
Alexson stated that the victim realised he had been deceived when the funds failed to materialise in his bank account.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
