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JOHOR BARU: A 64-year-old retired teacher lost around RM460,000 to a scam in Macau after believing that his MyKad had been misused for money laundering activities.
The Deputy Chief of the Johor Business Crime Investigation Department, Superintendent Amran Md Jusin, said the retiree received a phone call from someone claiming to be a PosLaju representative on August 1, telling him there was a package with his ID card. .
“The caller told the victim that he was under suspicion of money laundering and that he had to transfer different amounts of money to various bank accounts to assist in the investigations.
“The victim believed the story and made a total of 20 transactions worth RM 459,041.90 in separate bank accounts as instructed by the caller,” he said on Wednesday (September 16).
Supt Amran added that the victim carried out the transactions from August 11 to 28.
“The retiree used up his pension funds, cleaned up the joint savings account with his wife, and also sold his wife’s jewelry for the funds.
“He only realized that he was misled when the suspect called him again and told him that he would soon be charged in court,” Supt Amran said, adding that the victim filed a police report on September 15.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years, spanking and a fine on conviction, he said.
“The public has been reminded time and again not to believe the claims made by unknown persons and not to panic when receiving such calls.
“The authorities will never ask for your bank account numbers or give you instructions to make any bank transaction or payment.
“The public is encouraged to be wary of these types of scams that have been rampant lately and to refrain from giving their money to strangers so easily,” he said.
He added that the public can contact the police by going to the nearest police station or visiting www.ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule/ to check if the bank account involved is linked to any cheating case.
The term “Macau scam” was coined because it is believed that it originated in Macau or that the first victims came from there. This has never been confirmed.
The scam often begins with a phone call from someone posing as a bank official, government agency, or debt collector.
The scammer will then claim that the potential victim owes money or has an unpaid fine, often with a very short window of less than an hour, to clear the payment or face “dire consequences.”
These unsuspecting victims will be asked to make payments to get out of trouble.
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