KUALA TERENGGANU: A canteen operator here has lost RM131,000 after falling prey to a phone scam.
Kuala Terengganu OCPD Asst Comm Azli Mohd Noor said the 48-year-old victim received a call on July 31 from an individual claiming to be an officer from a bank’s anti-money laundering division.
The suspect told the victim that his bank account had been misused and instructed him to contact the police.
“The complainant’s (victim’s) call was then connected to another individual impersonating a police officer, who alleged that the victim was involved in money laundering.
“The victim then received a WhatsApp message and a telephone call from a person claiming to be the investigating officer, who asked him to transfer money into the account of the ‘Bank Negara auditor’ for investigation purposes,” he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 16).
The victim then made six cash transactions totalling RM131,000 into three different accounts, he added.
ACP Azli said the victim complied as he was threatened with arrest and told that all his assets would be frozen if he did not cooperate.
However, ACP Azli said the victim realised he had been duped after failing to receive the money, which he was told would be returned to him within three days, and lodged a police report on Thursday (Aug 15).
He said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
-Bernama
-TheStar