A FEMALE engineer working at a factory in Bayan Lepas has lost RM336,760 to a phone scam syndicate after being deceived by individuals impersonating officials from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police, said Penang Police Chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad.
The 35-year-old victim received a call from an unknown number while at work on 25 March.
“A man who contacted the victim introduced himself as a representative from MCMC and claimed that her phone number had been linked to 33 police reports involving various criminal activities. The call was then allegedly transferred to the Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters,” he said in a statement today.
There, another individual pretending to be a police officer accused the woman of being involved in a money laundering case and instructed her to surrender all her funds for investigation purposes.
“The victim was assured that her money would be returned once the investigation was completed. The suspect even threatened to issue a warrant of arrest if she failed to comply,” Hamzah said.
Fearing the consequences, the victim followed the suspect's instructions and made multiple transfers via online banking and cash deposits into 14 different bank accounts between 25 March and 9 June, ultimately exhausting her life savings.
Hamzah added that the suspect continued to demand more money, prompting the woman to finally realise she had been scammed. She lodged a police report yesterday.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. - June 17, 2025
