KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — Educators continue to be targets of phone scam syndicates, with the latest incident involving a retired teacher who lost RM1.7 million after receiving a call from someone claiming to be an officer from the Malaysian Multimedia Communications Commission in August.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the 72-year-old victim claimed she received the call on August 22 and was informed that she was involved in money laundering activities.
Speaking at a press conference today, he said the call was then transferred to someone claiming to be a police officer from the Bintulu district police headquarters in Sarawak, who instructed her to disclose her bank account details and to swear to keep the matter confidential.
The victim was also instructed to report to a 'police officer' from Bukit Aman twice daily and to withdraw all her savings and deposit them into four bank accounts under her name.
She was then told to place her ATM cards, PIN numbers, and SIM cards in an envelope and to leave the envelope in a bush area to be picked up for 'investigators' to conduct an audit.
The woman only realised she had been deceived after finding all the money in her bank accounts withdrawn and transferred without her knowledge.
She lodged a police report on October 9 in Sandakan, Sabah, and the police are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
Ramli said he was saddened by cases of teachers falling victim to scam syndicates.
“I view educators as an educated group that should maintain a high level of vigilance against the threat of crime," he said.
— Bernama
