KUANTAN: A 42-year old teaching assistant became RM65,619.12 poorer on Thursday after falling for a Transaction Authorisation Code (TAC) ruse.
Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the victim received a call on the morning of Dec 19 from an international number claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRB).
He said the impersonator, who claimed to be from the Alor Star office, told the victim that she had an outstanding tax balance amounting to RM17,600.76 for 15 months.
Wazir said he told the victim she needed to make payments immediately and asked for her bank details.
"The victim handed her two bank account numbers and later gave him the TAC numbers she received a few times when he requested for it.
"The next day around 9am, the victim received a call from one of her two banks that there had been a transaction of RM49,647.87 to an unknown bank account.
"The other bank later called to inform that there had been a RM15,971.25 transaction.
"The victim felt cheated and immediately lodged a police report," he said.
Wazir said there were 17 scam-related cases reported as of Friday.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail sentence of up to 10 years and caning, as well as a fine, if found guilty.