Latest news with #TimurLautCommercialCrimeInvestigationDivision
The Sun
07-07-2025
- The Sun
Retired bank manager loses RM680k in phone scam in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: An 80-year-old retired bank manager was cheated out of RM680,781 after falling prey to a phone scam involving fraudsters impersonating cybersecurity officials and police officers. Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin confirmed that the victim lodged a report at the Timur Laut Commercial Crime Investigation Division upon discovering the deception. The scam began on June 12 when the elderly man received a call from an individual claiming to represent 'Cyber Security Putrajaya.' The caller falsely accused him of spreading misinformation, stating that his phone number had been blacklisted. The call was then redirected to another fraudster posing as a police officer from the Alor Setar Police Station. This individual alleged that the victim's bank account was linked to money laundering activities. 'To clear his name and avoid arrest, the victim was instructed to open two new bank accounts. Between June 19 and 23, he transferred a total of RM680,781 into those accounts. 'The scammer also told him to place his ATM and credit cards, along with bank documents, into an envelope and leave it on a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electrical box near a bank in Tanjung Bunga,' said Mohd Alwi. On June 26, the victim checked his accounts and found that all the money had been siphoned off to unknown third-party accounts. Authorities are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud.
The Star
07-07-2025
- The Star
Retired bank manager loses RM680,000 in phone scam
GEORGE TOWN: An elderly retired bank manager lost RM680,781 after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate posing as cybersecurity officers and police. Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the 80-year-old lodged a report at the Timur Laut Commercial Crime Investigation Division after realising he had been scammed. On June 12, the victim received a call from someone claiming to be from "Cyber Security Putrajaya," who said his phone number had been blacklisted for allegedly spreading false information. The call was then transferred to a supposed police officer from the Alor Setar Police Station, who claimed the victim's bank account was involved in money laundering. "To clear his name and avoid arrest, the victim was instructed to open two new bank accounts. Between June 19 and 23, he transferred a total of RM680,781 into those accounts. "The scammer also told him to place his ATM and credit cards, along with bank documents, into an envelope and leave it on a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electrical box near a bank in Tanjung Bunga," he said in a statement on Monday (July 7). On June 26, after checking his accounts, the victim discovered that all the money had been transferred to unknown third-party accounts. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud. - Bernama
Barnama
07-07-2025
- Barnama
Retired Bank Manager Loses RM680,000 In Phone Scam
GEORGE TOWN, July 7 (Bernama) -- An elderly retired bank manager lost RM680,781 after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate posing as cybersecurity officers and police. Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the 80-year-old lodged a report at the Timur Laut Commercial Crime Investigation Division after realising he had been scammed. On June 12, the victim received a call from someone claiming to be from 'Cyber Security Putrajaya,' who said his phone number had been blacklisted for allegedly spreading false information. The call was then transferred to a supposed police officer from the Alor Setar Police Station, who claimed the victim's bank account was involved in money laundering. 'To clear his name and avoid arrest, the victim was instructed to open two new bank accounts. Between June 19 and 23, he transferred a total of RM680,781 into those accounts. 'The scammer also told him to place his ATM and credit cards, along with bank documents, into an envelope and leave it on a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electrical box near a bank in Tanjung Bunga,' he said in a statement today. On June 26, after checking his accounts, the victim discovered that all the money had been transferred to unknown third-party accounts. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud. -- BERNAMA
The Sun
29-06-2025
- The Sun
Retired woman loses RM436k in online IPO investment scam in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: A retired airline programme manager, 62, was cheated of RM436,000 in a fraudulent online investment scheme involving fake initial public offerings (IPOs). Penang Deputy Police Chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin confirmed the victim lodged a report with the Timur Laut Commercial Crime Investigation Division after realising she had been deceived. The scam was advertised in a WhatsApp group named 'enspire capital', which lured victims with promises of high returns from IPO investments. The retiree was directed to download an app called 'freeman plus' to facilitate transactions. 'Between May 12 and June 2, she made 56 fund transfers to four different company accounts. Despite assurances, she received no returns, and the suspects continued demanding more money,' Mohd Alwi stated. Investigations revealed the woman used her personal savings and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals to fund the fraudulent investments. Authorities are working to trace the syndicate behind the scam. The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Barnama
28-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Retired Woman Loses RM436,000 In Online IPO Investment Scam
GEORGE TOWN, June 28 (Bernama) -- A 62-year-old retired airline programme manager recently lost RM436,000 of her life savings after falling victim to an online investment scam involving fake initial public offering (IPO). Penang Deputy Police Chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the woman lodged a report with the Timur Laut Commercial Crime Investigation Division after discovering she had been deceived by a fraudulent scheme. The scam was promoted through a WhatsApp group called 'enspire capital', which promised high-returns through IPO investments. The victim was instructed to download an app named 'freeman plus' as the investment platform. 'Between May 12 and June 2, she made 56 fund transfers to four different company accounts. Despite the promises, she received no returns. Instead, the suspects kept requesting additional payments,' he said in a statement tonight. Investigations found the victim used her personal and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings to finance the so-called investments. Mohd Alwi said efforts are ongoing to identify and track down the syndicate responsible. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. -- BERNAMA
