The rising tide of phone scams in Malaysia: Victims lose millions in deceptive schemes

 

PHONE scams continue to wreak havoc in Malaysia, claiming victims across all age groups and professions, with losses amounting to millions of ringgit.

The deceptive tactics used by these fraudsters are sophisticated, preying on fear and trust to manipulate their targets.

Businesswoman Duped Out of Over RM1 Million

This week, a 37-year-old company director fell victim to a phone scam after receiving a call from someone claiming to be from a courier company.

The caller alleged that a package containing a checkbook and bank token under her name had been flagged.

After she denied any knowledge of the package, the call was transferred to an individual posing as a police officer.

Claiming her Visa card was linked to fraud and money laundering, the supposed officer instructed her to transfer RM1,140,320 to a different account for investigation purposes.

Fearful of legal repercussions, she complied. The scam only became evident when additional transfers were demanded, prompting her to file a police report.

Nurse Scammed Out of RM129,000

Two weeks ago, a 23-year-old nurse working at a private hospital also fell prey to a scam. Posing as a customer service representative from an online shopping platform, the fraudster accused her of selling unapproved cosmetic products.

The call was escalated to an “investigating officer,” who convinced her that her bank accounts were being scrutinized for money laundering.

Over four months, she made 13 cash deposits totaling RM129,000 to six different accounts.

Pensioner Loses RM670,994 in Cash and Valuables

Last month, in another shocking case, a 72-year-old pensioner was scammed out of RM670,994, including cash, jewelry, gold dinar coins, and gold bars.

The victim received a call from a “customer service officer” alleging her phone number was tied to a cybercrime case.

Transferred to a fake police officer, she was told to secure her personal data and funds. Trusting the scammer, she surrendered her wealth.

Authorities Issue Warnings

Johor Police Chief Datuk M Kumar and Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department Director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf have both urged the public to remain cautious.

They emphasised that legitimate authorities will never request money transfers for investigations or demand personal information over the phone.

As scams grow increasingly elaborate, the public is advised to verify suspicious calls and report such incidents promptly to avoid falling victim to these criminal schemes. —Focus Malaysia