SIBU: A retired teacher in Bintulu was cheated of RM199,000 in a Macau scam.
Bintulu OCPD Supt Batholomew Umpit mentioned on Sunday (July 3) that the 63-year outdated lady’s ordeal started on June 30 when she obtained a name from a courier firm in Kuala Lumpur informing her {that a} parcel which was meant for her had been wrongly despatched to an organization in Pahang.
The suspect informed her that the parcel which purportedly contained her identification card, ATM and bank cards had been detained by Sabah police.
“The line was then purportedly transferred to a police officer at a Sabah police station who requested her to settle the matter.
“She was informed to make an enchantment as her title had been reportedly blacklisted for cash laundering,” he mentioned.
The sufferer was informed to open a brand new checking account and to switch all her cash to it for investigation functions.
“She registered the suspect’s handphone quantity in her new account and likewise gave the cardboard particulars,” mentioned Supt Batholomew.
The lady realised that she had been cheated when she was informed by her financial institution {that a} whole of RM199,000 from her account had been transferred to 2 accounts of the suspect from July 1 to 2.
Supt Batholomew suggested the folks to not panic ought to they obtain such calls from strangers who claimed to be from authorities departments, banks, insurance coverage corporations and courier corporations.
“End the decision instantly and do not make any name to any quantity supplied by the suspects. Do not additionally present account particulars to the suspects,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the general public can even examine the telephone variety of a suspect at Check Scammers CCID or at http://semakmule.rmp.gov.my.
Alternatively, they will name the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-2610 1559 and 03-2610 1599 for recommendation regarding on-line scams.
The time period “Macau scam” was coined as it’s believed it originated from Macau or that the primary victims got here from there.
The scam usually begins with a telephone name from somebody pretending to be an officer from a financial institution, authorities or regulation enforcement company or debt collector.
The scammer will inform the potential sufferer that they owe cash or has an unpaid fantastic, usually with a really brief window to settle the fee or face “dire penalties”.
The victims will then be requested to make funds to get them off the hook.
