A RETIRED man in Kuantan has lost more than RM328,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated phone scam in which fraudsters impersonated police officers and coerced him into transferring his savings under the guise of an investigation.
Pahang police chief Yahaya Othman said today that the 64-year-old victim only discovered the loss when he checked his bank balance on Wednesday, more than a month after the transactions were made.
According to police, the scam began on 4 February when the victim received a WhatsApp call from an unknown individual claiming to be a police officer based in Putrajaya.
The suspect alleged that the victim was implicated in a fraud case and warned that he could face arrest if he failed to cooperate.
The victim was then instructed to open two new bank accounts, purportedly for financial transaction monitoring by the police and to assist in the investigation.
“On 5 February, the victim deposited his savings amounting to RM128,208.88 and RM200,242 into the accounts as directed,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
The victim subsequently provided the banking details of the newly opened accounts to the suspect, as instructed. However, after more than a month, he discovered that all the funds in the accounts had been withdrawn.
“The victim attempted to contact the suspect but failed, before realising he had been deceived and subsequently lodged a police report in Rompin.
“The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” Yahaya said.
Police have urged the public to remain vigilant against such scams, stressing that calls alleging involvement in criminal activity and pressuring individuals to take immediate action, such as opening bank accounts or transferring money, are common tactics used by scam syndicates.
“Members of the public who suspect they have fallen victim to a scam are advised to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997,” he added.
The case underscores the growing sophistication of phone scams in Malaysia, with authorities continuing to warn the public to verify suspicious claims directly with relevant agencies before taking any action. - March 26, 2026
