Scammers are also getting into the GST act now

BALIK PULAU: Even scammers are taking advantage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hype targeting unsuspecting victims including professionals and Datuks.

Bogus “Customs officers” are “hunting down” so called unpaid Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the purchase of handphones.

Balik Pulau OCPD Supt A. Anbalagan said yesterday police had received 43 reports, with 23 lodged in his district between Jan 1 and May 27 in the scam dubbed as Macau scam.

The scam operators, he said, would use VoIP technology to replicate the telephone number of genuine institutions, including the police and Bank Negara Malaysia, to cheat people.

“We have opened four investigation papers for cheating, with victims suffering losses amounting to a total of RM51,300.

“I am worried that the scam was done in a timely manner due to the fact that GST will be zerorated beginning this Friday,” he said in a statement.

Supt Anbalagan said the scammers would pose as Customs officers and tell their targets that they owe money for unpaid GST for mobile phones.

He said the scammers would also relate it to baby formula, with one victim losing RM9,300.

“If the victims refused to pay, the call would then be forwarded to a ‘police officer’ who would accuse them of committing a crime.

“The ‘police officer’ would then ask the victims to transfer funds to another account to prevent their bank accounts from being frozen or forfeited.

“They would assure the victims that the money would be returned after the investigation is concluded,” he said.

Supt Anbalagan advised the public not to reveal banking details to anyone, either through handphone or any other means.

“If you need to liaise with the bank, do so in person at the nearest branch.

“If you receive such calls, do not entertain them and alert the police immediately,” he said.