Stockbroker loses RM1.24mil to elaborate phone scam
PETALING JAYA : A female stockbroker in Penang lost RM1.24 million to a phone scam syndicate that convinced her she was under investigation for money laundering.
Penang deputy police chief Alwi Zainal Abidin said the Timur Laut police headquarters' commercial crime investigation division received a report from the 47-year-old woman yesterday.
'According to the victim, she received a phone call from an unknown number on June 20 while she was at her office in George Town. She spoke to a woman who claimed to be from Pos Laju Malaysia.
'The woman informed her that a package containing an identity card, ATM card and cheque book was sent under her name from Kuching, Sarawak, to Terengganu, and the package had been detained by police,' Bernama reported Alwi as saying.
The call was then redirected to a police station in Terengganu, where the victim spoke to another individual posing as a police officer, and was told her bank account was suspected of being involved in a money laundering case.
Alwi said the 'police officer' also instructed the woman to surrender all her money for auditing purposes and assured her that it would be returned once the investigation was completed.
He said the suspect also threatened the woman, warning that a warrant for her arrest would be issued if she failed to comply.
'Out of fear, the victim then made 26 online fund transfers into five different bank accounts provided by the suspect between June 26 and June 30, amounting to RM1.24 million.
'The woman only began to suspect she had been duped after sharing her predicament with family members, who told her it was a scam.
'She then lodged a police report to enable an investigation to be carried out,' Alwi said.
He added that further investigations are under way, including efforts to trace the syndicate's network. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
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