Three nabbed for alleged involvement in over 200 Macau Scam cases

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police have detained three individuals including two women believed to be involved in more than 200 Macau scam cases with losses estimated at RM4.5 million.

State police chief Datuk Seri A. Thaiveegan said the trio, aged between 20 and 21, were picked up in three locations in Penang last Tuesday following a report lodged by a university lecturer who claimed to have fallen victim to the syndicate.

“The 58-year-old lecturer lost more than RM300,000 after receiving calls from the syndicate members who impersonated as customs and police officers from Alor Star in Kedah, claiming that the man was involved in illegal money laundering and the smuggling of mobile phones from Thailand.

“The syndicate then asked the victim to transfer money into an account, which was said to have been prepared by the security unit of Bank Negara Malaysia, if he wishes not to be detained by the police,” he said yesterday.

Thaiveegan said subsequently, the victim transferred RM300,000 into the account before he was told to transfer RM10,000 into another account belonging to a woman as the (callers claimed that) the case could not be resolved.

The man realised that he was cheated after he failed to contact the police officer known as “Sergeant Nor Zam” before lodging the police report last Tuesday, he said.