Cops block RM28.3 million to overseas scam account

KUALA LUMPUR - The police had successfully tracked and blocked a sum of money amounting to RM28.3 million from being transferred to an overseas bank account abroad following a report of a business email compromise last Thursday.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yusof said based on investigations, the victim's company had been dealing with a company abroad since January to obtain liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

"The company received an email from the representative of the supplier company ordering payment to be made to the new account on June 22.

"Believing the instructions given, the victim made a payment to the account," he said in a statement on Monday.

Ramli said that the victim only realised they had been cheated when the real supplier company informed them that they still had not received the payment.

"Acting on the information, the police in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia and financial institutions involved had tracked the money and successfully blocked a total of RM28,361,636.68 from being transferred to a bank account abroad," he said.

He said that the case is still under investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

"As a preventive measure, the public especially business members who use email in their daily affairs are reminded to always be cautious.

"Make sure that the email received is from the real buyer or seller," he said.

He said that the public needs to be alert if there are instructions related to changing bank accounts for payment purposes.

"Ideally, contact the seller company, the buyer through a phone call to get confirmation regarding the account change," he said.