GEORGE TOWN: A businesswoman became RM534,500 poorer after she fell victim to a phone scam recently.
The 53-year-old victim lodged a police report on Wednesday.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Tan Cheng San said the victim received a call from an individual who had posed as an officer from Pos Laju Malaysia, telling her there was an unclaimed parcel under her name, containing prohibited items, such as MyKad and ATM card.
He said, soon after, the victim received a call from an individual who had posed as a policeman, supposedly from the Kangar police contingent headquarters in Perlis, to take down her report on someone using her information to send the prohibited items.
He said the victim was subsequently contacted by a third individual who had posed as a police officer, telling her she was involved in drug trafficking and illegal money laundering.
She was asked to report herself every four hours to the officer.
"The officer told the victim to download the BNM application and was instructed to open a new bank account.
"She was then instructed to fill her new bank details into the BNM application and to transfer her money amounting to RM466,500.00 into the bank account for investigation purposes.
"The officer also ordered her not to touch the account and the money inside the account for three months.
"She was then told to conduct three money transfer transactions into two other accounts totalling RM68,000.00," he said.
Tan said the victim realised she had been cheated after checks into her account found that the money had been transferred to several other bank accounts.
"Altogether, she lost RM534,500," he added.
Tan said the case is probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.