SIBU: The public is urged to watch out for suspicious characters prowling around when using the auto teller machines (ATMs).
The advice came from a 43-year-old furniture manufacturer surnamed Kong who was suspected to have fallen victim to an ATM fraud recently.
Kong had gone to a bank in Tuanku Osman Road to withdraw RM100 via an ATM.
He tried to withdraw the amount four times but each time, the machine only gave him the receipt, without the cash.
A stranger whom Kong had earlier seen loitering in front of the bank approached him and gestured to Kong that he should use an adjacent ATM.
Kong did as advised and successfully withdrew RM500. However, the receipt showed he had withdrawn RM900.
He brought the matter up with a bank officer, but the latter told him he had indeed withdrawn RM900.
Not ready to budge, Kong requested to have a look at the CCTV clips, but the bank officer told Kong he must first lodge a police report.
After lodging a police report, Kong together with the police and bank officers, viewed the CCTV clips. To his shock, the clips clearly showed the stranger pressing a button before taking away RM400 from the ATM.
It was not immediately known how the fraud was executed.
The police are investigating.