Lecturer cheated of RM260,000

KOTA KINABALU: A public university lecturer was made RM260,000 poorer after falling prey to a Macau scam recently.

The woman, 48, became a victim after responding to a text message from the number “68886” on May 21.

According to the text, the victim’s credit card had been used at Senai International Airport in Johor.

It provided a hotline number for the woman to call.

“The victim called the number, and was supposedly answered by a bank officer.

“The ‘bank officer’ informed the victim that her account had been blocked and instructed her to speak to a Bank Negara Malaysia investigating officer,” said Kota Kinabalu district police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Chandra.

He said the officer then instructed the lecturer to present herself at a bank in Alam Mesra here to have her account frozen.

She was also told to transfer her money to several other accounts.

“Worried, the victim made the transfer to four different bank accounts from May 21 to 28,” he added.

Chandra said the woman only realised she had been deceived after she could no longer contact the so-called officer.

Police are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

The victim called the number, and was supposedly answered by a bank officer. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER M. CHANDRA Kota Kinabalu district police chief