BATU PAHAT: A trader was devastated after losing RM130,000 to a phone scam perpetrated by a man posing as a Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) employee and a police officer.
The 61-year-old victim received a call from the suspect, who claimed to be a TNB employee from Kuantan, Pahang, last Friday, alleging that he was involved in electricity theft.
Acting Batu Pahat district police chief Superintendent Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the victim denied the allegation as he did not own a house in Kuantan.
He said the call was then transferred to an individual impersonating an officer from the Pahang police contingent headquarters.
"The 'officer' informed the victim that he was also involved in money laundering activities based on available information.
"After that, the suspect asked the victim to provide his banking information for investigation purposes," he said in a statement.
Shahrulanuar said on May 26, the victim checked with his bank and discovered that a total of RM130,000 had been transferred in stages to three different accounts.
Therefore, he said, the victim filed a report to enable the police to conduct an investigation.
"The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The public is advised to be cautious if they receive calls from unknown individuals as they may become victims," he said.
