Elderly Woman Loses Over RM410,000 to Sophisticated Phone Scam

KUCHING: A 69-year-old woman here lost RM415,464 after falling victim to a phone scam by a caller impersonating a police officer. Kuching police chief Asst Comm Alexson Naga Chabu said the woman received a phone call on Sept 17 last year from the suspect, who alleged that a criminal case existed in her name. "The victim subsequently made six transactions into four different bank accounts to resolve the matter, upon assurance that the money would be returned on Jan 5 this year," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 20). The victim realised she had been scammed when the funds were not returned to her. She then lodged a police report here. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property. ACP Alexson advised the public not to panic and to immediately end suspicious phone calls to avoid being scammed. "Do not give any personal and banking information to unknown callers. "Suspicious phone and bank account numbers can be checked at the Semak Mule portal," he said. He added that suspicious activities can be reported via the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) 997 hotline or the Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department at 011-6289 0089 or kjsjkswk@rmp.gov.my.