Ranau civil servant loses RM13,000 in phone scam
Ranau district police chief Superintendent Mursalin Mahmud said the victim received a phone call from an unknown number on May 27. The caller claimed to be from the ministry and alleged that the victim's phone number was being used to spread fake messages related to investments, job offers and gambling.
The call was then redirected to another individual who claimed to be a police officer from the Perak Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK). On May 29, the victim was instructed to transfer RM13,000 into an account under the name Muhammad Azlan, allegedly for the purpose of 'account protection.'
'The scammers also demanded that the victim send photos and personal information every three hours as a form of self-reporting,' Mursalin said.
After realising she had been scammed, the victim lodged a police report at the Ranau police station on June 10.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud.
'I urge the public not to panic if they receive suspicious calls from individuals claiming to be police officers or representatives of government agencies,' Mursalin advised. 'Do not disclose personal information such as bank account details or identification documents, and never carry out financial transactions based solely on phone instructions.'
He also reminded the public to verify any such calls with the nearest police station or district police headquarters and remain alert to the tactics used by fraud syndicates to avoid becoming victims.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Police seek help from TikTok over fake claim
KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities are seeking information from TikTok in connection with a user who claimed to be a surgeon involved in the autopsy of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) are jointly investigating the matter. 'We are waiting for TikTok to provide information to support the investigation. I leave it to the police and MCMC to obtain the details and take appropriate legal action.' Fahmi earlier attended an arts and culture promotion programme at the People's Housing Project in Kerinchi. The issue came to light after an individual posted online that he had attended the student's autopsy. Fahmi had earlier stated that the TikTok account during a livestream alleged the user was present at the post-mortem on Aug 10. However, the Health Ministry verified that he was neither a specialist nor a ministry staff member. Authorities are also investigating the account '@berjuanguntukzara' for disseminating inaccurate information, including conspiracy theories and bullying-related content. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M Kumar said the case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. Zara Qairina was found unconscious after reportedly falling from the third floor of her school hostel in Papar on July 16 and died the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Victim: I bought chairs, but got face masks instead
PETALING JAYA: He made an online purchase of an outdoor barbecue grill but received a set of kitchen knives that was not worth even one-tenth of what he paid for the stove. On another occasion, businessman Mac Wong paid for three recliner chairs worth almost RM2,000 from the same e-commerce website. 'They were to be sent from China. After waiting for about three weeks, I received a text message from a local courier company notifying me of the delivery of the chairs that day. 'I had reserved a space in my living room to accommodate the bulky chairs. I eagerly waited for them. I expected a lorry to arrive but instead, a deliveryman showed up on a motorcycle and passed me a large envelope,' he said. Wong signed it, assuming it was for documentation purposes. 'Then I noticed the airway bill number on the envelope was the same as my order of the chairs. I opened the envelope and out came three surgical face masks,' he recalled. Despite being a regular and 'experienced' online shopper, Wong had twice fallen victim to such a scam over the years. In this case, the scam involved the non-delivery of purchases or the delivery of goods that do not match the buyer's order. Scammers would pose as traders on e-commerce platforms and take payment for orders made by unsuspecting buyers. Initially, the purchasing process proceeds smoothly with shipment details and other updates issued by the scammer once the buyer pays for the goods. However, upon taking delivery and signing the receipt of their purchase, the buyers would discover that were given parcels containing mere plastic padding or simply an empty package. Wong, 53, said he was fortunate that the e-commerce platform promptly acted on his complaints in both cases and gave him a full refund within days. However, not many were as lucky, especially if they had made purchases thorough advertisements they came across in dodgy websites or social media platforms which do not offer compensations for non-deliveries or fake deliveries. 'The red flags to look out for are often prices that are unbelievably low. Or offers of free gifts such as buy one free one,' he said. 'It's best to shop from reputable e-commerce websites. 'The prices might be a little higher but at least we can have peace of mind knowing we would be reimbursed in the event we get scammed.'
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Lorry driver arrested for reckless driving and obstructing police
NIBONG TEBAL: A lorry driver was arrested for reckless driving during a police chase and for obstructing authorities from inspecting his vehicle during an integrated operation on Saturday night. The incident unfolded during a police operation targeting street thugs, codenamed Op Samseng Jalanan, near the Jawi toll plaza at about 11.30pm. During the operation, the police spotted two tipper lorries being driven suspiciously. Seberang Prai Selatan district police chief Superintendent Jay January Siowou said that when the drivers were signalled to stop, both ignored police orders and sped off towards Nibong Tebal's main road. He added that one of the lorries ran a red light at Bukit Panchor and nearly collided with a policeman stationed at the intersection. "The driver continued to flee, driving dangerously along Jalan Transkrian, before the vehicle was intercepted and apprehended by police with assistance from mobile patrol vehicles and police motorcycle patrol units at Jalan Sungai Daun in Kampung Ladang Kalidonia. "Initial investigations showed that the suspect did not have a valid driving license or Goods Driver's License (GDL). "Further checks indicated that the vehicle's road tax had expired, although its insurance remained valid," he said in a statement on Sunday. Jay added that the suspect tested negative for drugs during a urine screening and that the vehicle had been seized. The case is being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant and Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving. "We want to remind the public that reckless driving is a serious offence that can result in fatal accidents, and we will not hesitate to take stern action," he said. Jay said police would intensify enforcement efforts, particularly operations targeting dangerous drivers, to ensure the safety of all road users.
