Pensioner loses half a million ringgit to Macau scam in Johor

JOHOR BARU: An 85-year-old man lost over half a million ringgit to a Macau scam in Johor.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the pensioner lost RM529,300 after receiving a call from a suspect who introduced himself as a police officer in May.

“The suspect told the victim that he was a suspect in a money-laundering case and that his bank account would be investigated by the authorities,” he said in a statement on Saturday (July 16).

Comm Kamarul Zaman said that the victim then agreed to transfer all of his money into another account and gave the suspect his bank information and ATM card.

He added that the victim checked his bank account on Wednesday (July 13) and found that money had been transferred out to multiple accounts without his knowledge between June 26 and July 6.

Comm Kamarul Zaman then said that the victim lodged a police report on Thursday (July 14).

In another unrelated case, police received a report from a 22-year-old male university student who claimed he had been a victim of an online fake job scam that promised a high return in a short period through commissions.

Comm Kamarul Zaman said that the victim came across a job advertisement through social media using a well-known e-commerce platform.

“He then clicked on the link and communicated with a suspect regarding the job. The victim was convinced that he only needed to come up with the capital by purchasing a certain item, and his money would be paid back with a 10% commission,” he said.

Tempted by the offer, the victim had done three transactions worth RM18,193 to the suspect.

“He, however, only felt cheated after the suspect requested another payment after not receiving the promised payback and commission,” he said, adding that both of the cases were investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.