An elderly man in Ipoh lost a staggering RM158,000 after falling victim to a cunning phone scam that preyed on fear and confusion.
The 73-year-old received a call from someone claiming to be from an insurance company, informing him of unpaid arrears. The call was then conveniently redirected to a person posing as a police officer from the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters. In a terrifying twist, the bogus officer accused the victim of being involved in a money laundering case worth over RM2 million, claiming an arrest warrant had already been issued.
Gripped by panic, the victim was manipulated into transferring funds under the guise of “cooperating with investigations.” According to Ipoh police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad, the man was coerced into making 12 separate transactions into 12 different bank accounts. It wasn’t until the money was long gone that the victim realized he had been scammed and lodged a police report. Authorities are now investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. This incident serves as yet another grim reminder of how quickly fear can be weaponized by scam syndicates.
Police are reminding the public to stay vigilant and to never make transactions based on phone calls from unknown sources. If you suspect a scam or need verification, contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) immediately at 997 — the official hotline set up to combat scam cases in Malaysia. Don’t panic, don’t pay, and always verify!
