A RETIRED woman in Kuala Terengganu lost RM578,595 after falling for a phone scam in November last year.
District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor, said the 61-year-old victim claimed to have received a phone call from an unknown number on November 21, 2025, at about 6.30 pm while at her home in the district.
He said the victim was accused of being involved in three false claims for spinal surgery worth RM68,000 before being instructed to file an online report.
He said the call was then connected to an individual posing as a police officer from Petaling Jaya, who informed him that the victim's identity card was being used for money laundering.
"Following that, the victim was given several documents related to the case and was instructed not to inform anyone about the matter and to isolate herself, in addition to having to report herself five times a day.
"To resolve the case, the victim was asked to collect money into her Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) account, supposedly for monitoring purposes by Bank Negara Malaysia.
“The victim, who believed the instructions, also handed over personal information, including a copy of her identity card, address and bank account information to the suspect,” he said in a statement today.
He said the victim then transferred savings from several of her bank accounts, including Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, RHB Bank Berhad, Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad and Lembaga Tabung Haji to the BSN account in question.
In addition, he said, the victim also transferred money from the pawned jewellery she owned to the same account.
Azli said the victim realised she had been cheated after failing to withdraw money and was informed by the bank that her account had been blocked following large withdrawals in stages to several other accounts.
“The victim came forward to make a police report at 3.31 pm, February 16, after finding that all of her savings and the pawned jewellery had disappeared,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, and further investigations are underway. – February 17, 2026
