IPOH – Online fraud syndicates have adopted a new modus operandi recently by sending victims fake “police” documents using fabricated arrest warrants or appearance notices bearing police logos, says Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.
He said the department had received two reports where the alleged documents were purportedly undersigned using the designations of the Perak police chief and Perlis police chief.
“The first case is of a restaurant trader in Teluk Intan who received a call claiming that there was a parcel containing prohibited items under the trader’s name.
“The complainant was also told that they were involved in drug and money laundering-related cases before being sent a (fake) police arrest warrant and appearance notice with a police logo, undersigned by the ‘Perak police chief’ via a message. However, the complainant did not fall for it and lodged a police report,” he said in a statement here tonight.
He said in the second case, a university lecturer fell victim to the scam by revealing personal and bank account information and lost RM98,000 in money transfers.
“The syndicate had sent alleged appearance notices bearing the police logo and signed by the ‘Perlis police chief’, claiming that the victim was suspected of being involved in a drug-smuggling and embezzlement case amounting to RM2.8 million with the purpose of scaring the victim,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yusri said in 2022, 358 cases of phone scams had been reported with losses amounting to RM15,110,598.87, while from January to May this year, a total of 181 cases such cases had been investigated involving losses totalling RM8,088,363.49
He said among the modus operandi used by scammers was impersonating the authorities, financial institutions, courts, insurance companies and delivery companies. – Bernama, June 20, 2023
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