SARATOK: A teacher was left RM154,000 poorer after she fell victim to a phone scam.
The incident happened on Oct 19 when the victim in her early 30s received a call from a woman named Maisarah, who claimed to be from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
According to Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata, the woman informed the victim that numerous public complaints had been lodged, alleging that her phone number was being used in fake advertisements circulating around Seremban.
Following that, the call was connected to various individuals, supposedly part of the investigation, instructing the victim to transfer money into a provided bank account for what was purportedly a Bank Negara Malaysia inquiry.
“In a state of panic, the woman made a series of 19 transactions totalling RM125,000 into seven different bank accounts between mid-October and mid-November.
“Recently, on Dec 4, at around 8 am, the victim was directed to withdraw an additional RM29,000 and toss them in the bushes near a junction in Saratok.
“She followed the instruction, and when the victim returned to the area (where she tossed the money), she discovered that the money had vanished,” he said.
It was at this point that she realised she had fallen victim to a scam, resulting in losses of about RM154,000.
Mancha said the teacher promptly reported the incident to the police yesterday (Dec 5) and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
In light of this, the public is advised to refrain from entertaining unfamiliar phone calls, and not to succumb to panic or fear in the face of any unfounded allegations.
