MIRI: A woman in her 70s suffered a loss of approximately RM900,000 after falling victim to a phone scam recently.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said in a report today that the retiree in Miri District reported the incident to the police on Feb 22, 2024.
“The victim received a call from an unknown phone number, purportedly a police officer from the Penang state contingent police headquarters.
“She was informed that she had joined a money laundering group and was directed to make payments for investigation purposes, with the promise of a refund.
“Over the course of mid-January to February 2024, the victim transferred money in 117 transactions to 21 different bank accounts, he said.
He added that upon realising she had been scammed after verifying with the nearby police station, the victim suffered losses of approximately RM900,000.
