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KUCHING, July 28: A woman has fallen victim to a heart-wrenching scam, losing her life savings of over RM300,000 to cunning fraudsters who exploited fear to deceive unsuspecting victims.
The incident occurred in May 2023 when the victim, identified as Madam Kuan, received a call from an individual posing as a police officer. The impersonator accused her of involvement in criminal activities in Peninsular Malaysia, instilling fear and engendering trust in his malicious words.
The impersonator even requested Madam Kuan to report her whereabouts hourly to him.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak member Michael Kong has today accompanied Madam Kuan to Affin Bank at Mile 7 to address the issue as a large amount of money, exceeding the bank’s transfer limit for third-party transactions, was swiftly transferred out of her account without triggering any safeguard measures.
“The issue at hand is how such large transfers of over RM90,000 per day, exceeding Affin Bank’s transfer limit for third-party transactions of RM50,000 per day, were allowed to occur without any red flags being raised,” he said in a statement today.
The scammer cleverly manipulated Madam Kuan’s trust, convincing her to transfer her life savings into a new account by falsely claiming that her existing accounts would soon be frozen.
Acting upon this misinformation, Madam Kuan opened a new account with Affin Bank and deposited her hard-earned money into it. Within three days, her entire savings were drained from the account.
Kong, who is the special assistant to DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, urged the public to be cautious and vigilant, as the incident serves as a cautionary tale of the common tactics used by scammers to exploit innocent individuals.
“Remember, the police, court, or Inland Revenue Board will never initiate dealings over the telephone. Therefore, it is crucial not to entertain anyone who claims to be a civil servant from these bodies and demands information or financial transactions over the phone,” he warned.
Kong said Affin Bank’s officers have pledged to investigate the matter and provide answers promptly.
However, he reiterated that it is vital for the public to stay informed and exercise caution to avoid falling victim to such deceitful schemes.
“By being aware of these dangers, we can collectively take a stand against bank scams and ensure the safety of our hard-earned money. Let us spread this message far and wide, empowering our community to safeguard against these deceitful schemes,” he urged. — DayakDaily
