Doctor losses RM20,000 in ‘fake IRB’ scam

BALIK PULAU: A 27-year-old doctor was cheated of more than RM20,000 after he received a call purportedly from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and the police.

Balik Pulau OCPD Supt A. Anbalagan said the victim, who works at a private clinic, received a call on Oct 24 at about 1pm from a man who introduced himself as “Dato Ridzuan” from LHDN’s Kelantan office.

“The victim was at his workplace in Taman Pantai Jerejak when he took the call.

“He was told that he has 18 months in tax arrears registered under his name at a company called Syarikat Umika Trading,” he said.

Supt Anbalagan said the victim from Persiaran Bayan Indah, however, denied that the company was his before the call was transferred to “Kelantan police headquarters”.

The victim was then told he was a suspect in a drug trafficking and money laundering case, and that a deputy public prosecutor would contact him and to cooperate with the probe.

“On the same day at about 2pm, the victim received about 12 TAC (Transaction Authorisation Code) messages from his bank after he made several transactions.

“He shared the codes with the suspect after being told in order to settle his case,” he said.

Supt Anbalagan said the victim went to a bank in Pantai Jerejak on Monday to check his account and found RM20,168.68 missing.

He added that the victim, realising he had been conned, then lodged a police report at the Queensbay police station later on Monday.