A 55-year-old woman has become the victim of a harrowing telephone scam, resulting in a loss of RM1.18 million. The incident came to light through a police report filed by the victim, who was deceived by fraudulent claims of her involvement in a money laundering crime.

The victim, employed as an IT personnel in a private company in Bintulu, recounted that the ordeal began with a phone call received on May 22nd. The caller alleged that the victim had registered a phone number in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, with the malicious intent to defame the Ministry of Health.

Sarawak's Police Commissioner, Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, disclosed that the call was subsequently transferred to two individuals posing as police officers from Kota Kinabalu. These impostors informed the victim that she was under suspicion for money laundering.

Exploiting the victim's fear, the scammers concocted a story that Bank Negara, Malaysia's Central Bank, required a thorough examination of her funds. Consequently, the victim was coerced into opening a new bank account and instructed to transfer her money to this account for investigative purposes.

Overwhelmed by panic, the victim hastily opened three separate bank accounts and transferred funds from her Employees Provident Fund (EPF) account and personal bank account. The total amount transferred was an astonishing RM881,000 and RM300,000, respectively.

Adding to the distress, the scammers demanded the victim disclose the new bank account information, including her username and online banking password. Furthermore, she was instructed to destroy all three of her ATM cards, leaving her with no access to her previous accounts.

Only after confiding in her husband and contacting her bank to discuss the transactions did the victim finally realize the deception that had taken place.

Telephone scams have become an unfortunate reality, preying on unsuspecting individuals and causing substantial financial losses. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution when sharing personal information over the phone. 

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Source: BERNAMA