A RETIRED civil servant has lost RM308,000 after being duped by a phone scam syndicate impersonating police officers and court officials, according to Johor Bahru Selatan District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat.
The 69-year-old man, who resides in Kampung Melayu Majidee, received the first suspicious call on 3 June at around 11am while at home.
The caller identified himself as “Sergeant Zuraidi” from the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters, falsely accusing the victim of involvement in money laundering and financing terrorism.
“Shortly after, the victim received a second call from a different number, allegedly from a court office, demanding payment to avoid imprisonment,” Raub said in a statement issued today.
Frightened by the accusations, the man complied with the instructions, transferring a total of RM308,000 across 44 transactions between 30 June and 9 October. The money was sent to four separate bank accounts.
Initial checks revealed that none of the four accounts had prior records of fraud. The victim only realised he had been scammed when he was pressured to make further payments and began to suspect the legitimacy of the calls.
“Police and banks will never instruct individuals to transfer funds into personal accounts for investigation purposes,” Raub stressed, urging the public to remain vigilant and verify any suspicious requests for payment.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries penalties including imprisonment, fines, or both. Authorities are currently working to identify and track down the individuals involved in the scam. - October 21, 2025
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