A 59-YEAR-old teacher in Penang has lost RM890,000 to a phone scam syndicate after being duped into believing she was under investigation for money laundering, police revealed late Monday.
Penang Deputy Police Chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the victim, who works at a local school, lodged a report with the Northeast District Commercial Crime Investigation Division after realising she had been scammed.
The incident began on 10 May when the woman received a call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as a representative from a bank and claimed that a credit card registered in her name had been misused.
“The victim denied having such a card. The call was then transferred to another individual who claimed to be a police officer in Johor,” said Mohd Alwi.
The second caller accused the woman of being involved in a money laundering case and instructed her to transfer her money for audit purposes. She was assured the funds would be returned once investigations were completed, and threatened with an arrest warrant if she failed to comply.
Fearful and intimidated, the woman made 27 online transfers between 19 May and 5 June to 23 different bank accounts, totalling RM890,000.
Police are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
The authorities continue to warn the public against responding to unsolicited calls from unknown individuals claiming to be from banks or enforcement agencies. - July 1, 2025
