Lecturer loses nearly RM50,000 in suspected Macau scam

0

KUCHING: A man has lost nearly RM50,000 from his savings in what is believed to be another case of Macau scam.

Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Supt Mustafa Kamal said the 30-year-old complainant, a lecturer, first received a call on Thursday from a woman asking him if he had received a letter that alleged his involvement in corruption.

After that, the line was transferred to a man who introduced himself as a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer, who informed the lecturer that the latter was a suspect in a money laundering case.

“The man (MACC officer) then advised the victim to cooperate with police from Bukit Aman, to which the line was allegedly transferred to. Then, two individuals – claiming to be police officers – briefed the victim about the (money laundering) case, before informing him that his account would be frozen.

“In a state of fear and panic, the lecturer made a transfer of RM49,758 to an account via online banking at 6.30pm,” said Mustafa, adding that the lecturer lodged a police report on Thursday.

The Sarawak CCID chief also pointed out a similar case in Bintulu, where a 24-year-old communications controller suffered losses of RM19,500.

It is reported that on Oct 29, the complainant was contacted by a man claiming to be an officer of a court in Melaka, who informed the former about his alleged involvement in a court case, which could result in him being arrested and his assets frozen.

The ‘court officer’ then instructed the victim to make transactions into two bank accounts, said Mustafa.

“Threatened by the risks of him being arrested and his assets frozen, the victim transferred RM16,000 into the first account, and RM3,500 into the second account,” he said, adding that the communications controller lodged a police report on Friday after sensing something amiss about the incident.

Additionally, Mustafa also said there was one individual in Miri who reported about receiving the same type of call – however, the Mirian did not fall victim to the scam.