MIRI, Sept 9: A 34-year-old man from Taman Tunku here lost RM50,000 after being duped by phone calls claiming he was involved in Goods and Services Tax (GST)-related offences.
The incident unfolded on Friday (Sept 7) when the victim received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as “an officer from the Kuching Court”. The caller claimed the victim had committed GST offences.
The call was then connected to a “police officer” attached to the Pulau Pinang police station. A “cop” by the name of SM Lim frightened the victim by saying he would be arrested within 24 hours and detained for 45 days to facilitate investigation.
The victim was then referred to two more “police officers”, which later led the victim to deposit RM50,000 into a bank account given by the scammers. The con men claimed the account was an “audit account” and that the money would be returned once their “investigation” was completed.
The victim went to Miri Central Police Station when the suspects called him again the next day and asked for more money.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. — DayakDaily
