Farmer loses RM27,800 to ‘wife’s relative’

KUANTAN: A farmer’s good intention to help a relative who required instant cash has turned into a nightmare when he lost RM27,800 of his savings within several hours.

The victim, 46, was duped by an unknown person masquerading as his wife’s relative. The incident occurred on Monday when the victim received a call from a woman at 10am, who claimed she was his wife’s relative and urgently wanted to borrow some cash.

The caller assured the victim that she would repay the money when they were to meet later on the same day.

Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the victim then called his wife.

“The victim was informed that the relative had lost her MyKad and bank cards, and urgently needed cash to purchase some goods for business.

“The man asked a friend who was in town to perform the transaction amounting to RM5,800 at 11am followed by another two online transfers amounting to RM14,200 between 11.30am and 1pm.

“At 1.30pm, the victim himself deposited cash for the relative. The total amount ‘loaned’ to the relative was RM27,800.”

Wazir said the bogus female relative then called the victim at 2pm asking him to meet her at the Kuantan Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) to return the money which she had borrowed.

“The victim went to the UTC and waited for several hours but no one came. After making several calls to his other relatives to verify the matter, the victim was shocked to be told that the female relative had never asked for any money from him.

“He lodged a police report on the same day. Investigations revealed that the victim had deposited the cash into two unknown bank accounts provided by the suspect,” he said, reminding the public to be extra careful when answering calls from unknown numbers.

Wazir said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.