Soldier loses RM8,000 in Macau scam

KUANTAN: It was another routine day for a soldier, 37, until he received a call and learned that he would be dragged to court for drug and money laundering cases involving RM2.3 million.

This was another Macau scam fleecing victims by using scare tactics, said Pahang Criminal Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof.

He said the soldier received a call from a man, who introduced himself as Megat Zainal Yaakub from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at 3.34pm on Tuesday.

“The army personnel was told that he had opened a Hong Leong account on July 9 at 48, Lorong Kingfisher Sulaiman 6, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,” he said yesterday.

The victim, Wazir, denied the allegation by the man, who transferred the call to “Bukit Aman” branch.

“The victim spoke to Corporal Hadi, Inspector Mazlan and Inspector Mariah.

“One of them claimed that the victim was involved in drug dealing and money laundering in the country and overseas, totalling RM2.3 million.

“They threatened to detain the victim for 45 days and would have him charged.

“Inspector Mariah said the case could be settled, but the victim must first withdraw the money in his account and transfer it to a ‘safe’ bank account.

“She asked the victim to furnish his 16-digit number on his CIMB auto-teller machine (ATM) card.

“He provided the scammer with the bank’s TAC number that he received in phone text for the transaction.”

The victim also provided the callers with his ATM card PIN number.

The scammers transferred out RM8,000 from the victim’s account.

Wazir said the victim was told that the money that was transferred to the finance division would be verified by the authorities.

He said the victim realised that he was duped as he did not receive any more calls and lodged a report at the Kuantan police district headquarters yesterday.

“The modus operandi of the suspects is to impersonate MACC and police officers, compelling victims to reveal their bank account details,” he said.

One of them claimed that the victim was involved in drug dealing and money laundering in the country and overseas, totalling a staggering

RM2.3 million.

Pahang Criminal Investigation Department