State’s biggest single loss in Macau scam thus far
MIRI: A civil servant here lost RM1,096,800 after falling victim to a Macau scam early this month.
Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said the case is the biggest single loss to Macau scammers in the state thus far.
Mustafa said the woman, 52, was contacted on May 7 by another woman named Syaifa Omar who claimed to be from the Terengganu Court.
He said the victim was allegedly told by the woman that her bank account had been compromised for drug smuggling and money laundering to the tune of RM90,000.
Shortly after the victim was contacted by a man named Sufian Sulaiman who said her account would be frozen and advised her to open a new savings account and to quickly transfer her money to it.
The man also advised the victim to change her registered online banking contact number to the number given by him.
On the instructions of the man, the victim claimed she credited her whole savings of RM1,096,800 into the new account in stages from May 7 until May 20 through 18 transactions.
“The victim only realised that she had been cheated after checking her account through the automated teller machine (ATM) and found only RM21 in her balance,” Mustafa said in a statement yesterday.
Mustafa, when contacted yesterday, said with the latest Macau scam case Miri city topped the chart with the highest number of recorded Macau scam victims.
Mustafa said this case was the highest single loss to Macau scam in the state.
“For Miri, as of last May 20, we have received 21 cases of Macau scam,” he said, adding that most victims were Chinese.
He further said nationwide, Sarawak ranked eighth.
When asked on the background of most of these victims, he said, “Some are housewives…ordinary workers, just about anybody.”
Mustapa went on to remind the public not to fall for any phone calls telling they had problems with their bank accounts.
“Do not easily be fooled by this syndicate, and please do not panic when you receive strange calls asking you to transfer money for no apparent reason,” he said.
