A retired teacher lost more than half a million ringgit for entertaining a telephone call said to be from an insurance company.

The 59-year-old woman, from Hutan Melintang, was initially told that she had an insurance claim from a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur before the call was connected to a “police officer” to investigate the source of the money in her account.

Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the victim was instructed to lodge a police report to deny the insurance claim and was then connected to the so-called police officer.

“The victim was also instructed not to inform her family about it,” he said in a statement yesterday.

“The victim was then told to transfer RM585,904 to another personal bank account and she did so out of fear and panic.

“She also shared her ATM card information with the unknown caller,” he said, adding that the money included her savings, pension and loan.

“She only realised that she had been scammed while trying to withdraw money some time later.

 “A police report was lodged on Monday at about 9.30am,” he added.

Comm Mohd Yusri said the public should always be vigilant.

“Do not accept calls or messages from unknown numbers,” he said, adding that people should always stay calm.

“We encourage people to use the WhosCall app to identify an unknown number.

“Enforcement agencies in Malaysia will not call to threaten you and to ‘settle’ outside.

“Be sure to check with the relevant agencies or department for verification.”

He said people should inform their family members about such calls or call the National Scam Response Centre’s hotline at 997.

“Never share any banking information under any circumstances when asked by strangers to transfer money to a bank account. Check the bank account on the semakmule.rmp.gov.my portal or download the (SemakMule) app.”

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by THE STAR

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