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By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 19: A woman lost about RM123,900 in savings after falling victim to a bank scam at the end of April this year.
Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen said sometime in April, the victim received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a police officer who informed her they were investigating a financial transaction case.
The suspect asked the victim to open a bank account and transfer all her funds to the account so the police could trace the financial activities and investigate.
“The next day, she informed the caller that she had done what was instructed, and she told the suspect her account number, and that’s it.
“One day later, she discovered five bank transfers amounting to RM123,900 from her account, which occurred on April 26, 2023.
“She then immediately went to the bank to check, and until today, she has not gotten a response,” he said in a Facebook live stream this morning.
Chong, who is Stampin MP and Padungan assemblyman, further mentioned that the victim had not even activated Internet banking for her account but within a day, her savings were transferred out from her bank account without her knowledge.
She also had not received any OTP (one-time password) or notifications about the transfer.
After a month’s wait, the victim contacted Chong’s special assistant Michael Kong Feng Nian, and together, they visited the bank to pursue the matter.
“However, the bank officer said the Regional Office headquarters is handling the matter, and therefore, they cannot do anything, and they also have no knowledge of when and whether there would be any results from the investigation,” Chong stated, adding that he will continue to assist in the woman’s case to recover her lost savings.
Chong further highlighted that bank scams have been rampant for the last few years and urged the government to take more stern and effective measures.
“Unless Bank Negara Malaysia and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) step in, it will be difficult for victims to retrieve their losses.
“I think this is unfair, and it does not instil confidence in the public about our banking system,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
