Businessman loses over RM2.7 million in phone scam

KUALA TERENGGANU - A businessman lost over RM2.7 million after falling victim to a phone scam, where the fraudsters posed as police officers and deputy public prosecutor.

Terengganu police chief Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairudin said the 64-year-old victim received a phone call from the suspects in early September last year, who falsely accused him of being involved in money laundering activities.

The suspects, claiming to be officers from the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters (IPD) in Selangor, instructed the victim to transfer RM2.7 million into his own bank accounts to resolve the matter.

"To avoid legal action, the victim followed the instructions and deposited the money into five different bank accounts.

"The suspects also told him not to check or make any transactions from these accounts for security reasons, from September until January," Mohd Khairi said.

The victim realised he had been scammed when he found that the funds had disappeared from all five accounts.

He subsequently filed a report at the Kuala Terengganu IPD, and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. - BERNAMA