KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 7 — A 62-year-old retired Community Development Department (KEMAS) teacher lost RM200,300 in a phone scam.

According to Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor, the woman received a call on May 25 from a suspect posing as an insurance representative, falsely accusing her of making a fraudulent insurance claim. 

The suspect then transferred the call to an accomplice impersonating a Bukit Aman police officer, claiming she could avoid arrest by posting bail and surrendering her money to Bank Negara for a purported investigation.

“Under duress, the victim transferred funds from her Tabung Haji account to her bank account before being coerced into disclosing her banking details. She then made a series of transfers totalling RM26,700 into four different accounts,” he said in a statement today.

The victim realised she had been deceived when she discovered that an additional RM173,000 had been withdrawn from her account.

A police investigation revealed 18 unauthorised transactions from her account to six unknown accounts between June 6 and 19. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. — Bernama