A 41-year-old nurse fell victim to a phone scam, losing RM88,700 to a fraudster impersonating an officer from the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
Acting Pahang police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin reported that the victim received a call in mid-June from an individual claiming to be an NSRC officer. The caller asserted that her bank account was under investigation by the police for being used by criminal syndicates. The call was then transferred to another person posing as a police officer, who further alarmed her by claiming she was implicated in money laundering activities.
To resolve the supposed case, the victim was instructed to transfer money into specific bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. Out of fear and under the impression that she was complying with legal authorities, the nurse used her savings to make twelve cash transactions, amounting to RM88,700, into three different bank accounts.
It was only later that she realized she had been scammed and subsequently lodged a police report in Temerloh.
In a statement released on June 26, Noor Hisam advised the public to exercise caution when receiving suspicious phone calls. He urged individuals to verify the authenticity of such calls with the police or other relevant government agencies to avoid falling prey to scams. He also recommended that the public utilize the online service available at https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my to check the legitimacy of account numbers and phone numbers before conducting any transactions.
This incident highlights the growing sophistication of phone scams and the importance of public awareness and vigilance. Scammers often use fear tactics and impersonate authority figures to manipulate victims into complying with their demands. By pretending to be from legitimate organizations, they create a sense of urgency and legitimacy that can be difficult to ignore, especially for those unaware of such fraudulent tactics.
Noor Hisam emphasized that legitimate authorities would never ask individuals to transfer money to resolve legal matters. He also reassured the public that the police are actively working to track down the perpetrators behind these scams and bring them to justice.
The public is encouraged to share information about such scams with their communities to prevent further incidents. Educating oneself and others about the signs of a scam can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim. Moreover, individuals who receive suspicious calls should not hesitate to report them to the authorities immediately.
In conclusion, this unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of skepticism and due diligence when dealing with unsolicited calls or messages, especially those requesting financial transactions.
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