KUCHING: A retiree from an oil and gas exploration company here, was swindled in a phone scam that cost him RM449,200.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri in a statement, revealed that the scam unfolded over a series of phone calls with the perpetrators posing as government officials.
The ordeal began on November 19 last year when the 69-year-old man received a call from one ‘Diana Abdullah,’ claiming to be from the Ministry of Communications and Digital.
“‘Diana claimed that the victim’s phone number was under surveillance by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) due to an alleged involvement in a defamation case.
“During the call, the victim was transferred to several individuals identified as ‘Sgt Vincent,’ ‘Insp Herman,’ and ‘Insp Kho,’ who claimed to be calling from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
“These impostors asserted that the victim was implicated in money laundering and drug trafficking activities,” he said.
Under the pretense of assisting the victim and monitoring his financial transactions, the suspects instructed him to open a new bank account at a local financial institution.
Believing their claims to be genuine, the victim complied with their demands.
Mohd Azman added that the victim was then coerced into providing his banking information and registering the phone number provided by the scammers on his online banking platform.
The suspects also ordered the victim to transfer RM390,000 and his liquidated shares of RM59,263 into his newly opened account.
“Without questioning, the victim carried out the transactions as instructed, unaware of their ulterior motives.
“Only later did the victim realise the extent of the scam when he checked his account balance and discovered a mere RM63.77 remaining.
“Suspecting foul play, he approached two financial institutions in Kuching on May 30 this year and discovered that a total of RM449,200 had been transferred from his new bank account to two unfamiliar individual accounts in stages between Nov 21 and Dec 2 last year,” he said.
He pointed out that the retiree promptly lodged a police report on yesterday (June 6) for further investigation into the case.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
Upon conviction, the offender can be sentenced to jail for a term of up to 10 years, and whipping, and is also liable to a fine.
