JOHOR BARU: A 45-year-old clerk and a 70-year-old retiree fell victims to scammers, losing a total of RM2.29 million in two separate incidents.
Johor acting police chief deputy commissioner M.Kumar said on Friday (Dec 29), the clerk lodged a report stating that she had transferred her savings of RM1,086,350 to a bogus police officer.
The fraudulent call, received in early November, falsely claimed her bank account was flagged for alleged involvement in money laundering activities.
The imposter, masquerading as a helpful investigator, convinced her to disclose her banking details, including online banking access, ostensibly to aid the investigation and prevent authorities from confiscating her funds.
Assured by the impostor that the sum would be credited back by the end of November after the supposed investigation's completion, the clerk followed instructions to transfer the amount to a provided bank account.
Although the credited sum initially returned to her account, the relief was short-lived as the impostor swiftly withdrew almost RM1.1 million a few days later.
In a separate incident reported yesterday, a 70-year-old retiree lost RM1,204,363 to a nonexistent investment scam.
Initially cautious, the retiree said he had invested a small amount, only to receive a phone call from an unidentified investment agent in September, touting a lucrative investment scheme.
Swayed by immediate profits on his initial investment, the retiree increased his investments, eventually reaching RM1,204,363.
However, he realised he was deceived when attempts to withdraw promised profits proved futile, and he encountered various excuses and coercion for additional payments.
Kumar said both cases were being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He reiterated the importance of public vigilance and recommended utilising the online services "Semak Mule" and "Whoscall" provided by the force's Commercial Crime Investigation Department to verify unidentified callers.
"Scammers employ various modus operandi and convincingly coerce victims into revealing their banking details.
"Always be vigilant, and remember that the police will not request your banking details. Verify through the police's official social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok—to stay informed about the latest scams."
