Govt retiree duped of nearly RM200K by scammers

© Provided by The Star Online A religious teacher lost RM76,170 after being duped by a Macau Scam on Feb 20, and a tour agent found more than RM52,443 disappeared after being duped in a fake part-time job offer via WhatsApp. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

ALOR GAJAH: A pensioner here has lost her retirement funds of close to RM195,000 after falling prey to a Macau scam.

Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Arshad Abu said the victim, a woman in her late 50s, was contacted by a woman caller claiming to be a lawyer.

"The victim, a former clerical assistant at a government department here, received the first call from the fraudster at 8.30pm on last Dec 21 claiming she was involved in a money laundering case," he said on Tuesday (March 28).

Supt Arshad said on the same day, the victim was referred by the bogus lawyer to an "Ampang Jaya police officer" who said there was an arrest warrant against her.

Soon after the confirmation from the so-called policeman, the first caller directed the victim to transfer all her savings to a bank account.

The "lawyer" asked the victim to disclose the banking details so that she would have representation if any legal action was taken against her.

Supt Arshad said the victim transferred her savings to the given bank account between Dec 28 and Jan 2.

"She discovered the account had been emptied on Jan 6," he said, adding that she only lodged a report at the Masjid Tanah police station a few days ago.

"We have opened an investigation paper under Section 420 of the Penal Code (for cheating)," he added.