IT worker loses RM1.2 mln to Macau scam

KUCHING - A 55-year-old woman suffered losses amounting to RM1.18 million after falling victim to a Macau Scam recently.

In the police report lodged yesterday, the information technology staff at a private company in Bintulu said she received a phone call on May 22 from an unknown man from Putrajaya who claimed she had registered a phone number in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to slander the Health Ministry.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the call was then transferred to two individuals claiming to be 'Sergeant Wong' and 'Inspector Khoo' from Kota Kinabalu, who told the victim she was suspected to be involved in money laundering.

"The victim was then informed by the suspects that Bank Negara wanted to check her funds and that she was required to open new bank accounts in her name and transfer the money to the new accounts for the investigation," he said in a statement today.

Mohd Azman said the victim, who panicked, opened three bank accounts in Bintulu on May 23 and June 9 and transferred money from her Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and bank account amounting to RM881,000 and RM300,000 respectively, into the new accounts.

The woman was also instructed by the so-called 'Inspector Khoo' to give him the information of the new accounts along with the online banking usernames and passwords.

"The victim was also told to break and throw away the three ATM cards. She only realised that she had been duped after she told her husband about it and contacted the bank, which informed her that there had been several money transfers totaling RM1.18 million from her three bank accounts to an account in the name of an unknown individual," he said. - BERNAMA