Retiree loses almost RM500,000 in Macau Scam

A retired civil servant, in her 70s, suffered losses amounting to almost RM500,000 after she allegedly fell victim to a Macau Scam syndicate.

Kelantan Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Ahmad Azizul Mohamed said the retiree received a call, supposedly from a Pos Laju employee, in mid-July telling her that a parcel meant for her had reached Sabah.

"The suspect then told her that the parcel contained her identity card and that several of her bank ATM cards had been used in a money laundering case.

"She was then put through to a few other suspects posing as police officers, including an investigating officer (IO) handling the money laundering case,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Ahmad Azizul said the suspect posing as the IO kept in touch with the victim for a week and got her to reveal all her bank account numbers before telling her to transfer all her money in Tabung Haji (TH) and Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) to a single account and also to make a new ATM card.

"The victim was then duped into revealing her ATM card's pin number,” he said.

He said that when the victim checked with the bank early this month, she found that several withdrawals amounting to RM496,000 had been made without her knowledge and approval.

She then lodged a police report and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

-- BERNAMA