By Brad Rantayy
LIMBANG, June 21: A retired school teacher from Kampung Berawan, Batu 6 here, has claimed she lost RM500,000 in savings after she was duped by scammers impersonating as police officers and a staff from a telecommunications company.
The incident was believed to have occurred since March when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was imposed until the current Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
Limbang district police chief Supt Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the 61-year-old woman has lodged a police report on Saturday (June 20) around 12.30 pm, after realising her savings were gone.
He said it all started when the victim received a phone call from a male suspect in March (this year).
“The suspect was said to have introduced himself as an officer from a telecommunication company and claimed that the telephone line registered under the victim’s name would be cut off for engaging in an online gambling with a man known as ‘Ong Kai Sing’.
“The victim then was told to speak to a ‘police personnel’ from Kuantan, Pahang, who introduced himself as ‘Sergeant Zulkifli Atot’.
“The ‘police sergeant’ had told the victim that he has made some checking on her details and he has claimed that the woman has received some fund totalling at RM200,000 from her illegal gambling activities,” said Abang Zainal.
He said to avoid legal action, the victim was asked to call another ‘police officer’ -Inspector Nur Milah Jamil.
“The ‘officer’ claimed the she was conducting an investigation against the victim as she was suspected to be involved in money laundering activities.
“The victim had denied any involvement but was ordered to share her savings information over the phone to avoid the money from being seized or the bank account frozen during the investigation,” he added.
Abang Zainal said that investigations are being conducted under Section 420 of the Penal Code which provides for a sentence of up to 10 years’ jail and caning, with a possibility of a fine, if found guilty. -DayakDaily
