Two teachers, sales assistant latest Macau scam victims

KUCHING: Two teachers and a shop assistant were believed to be the latest victims of the infamous Macau scam based on their reports lodged with the police here on Oct 11, said Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) head Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah in a press statement yesterday.

“The first victim, a 42-year- old female teacher here lost RM4,700 to the scammers on Oct 10 after she received a call from a man who identified himself as ‘Awang Ibrahim’. During that call, the suspect said that the victim had opened a bank account in Sabah on July 9 this year was used for drug and money laundering activities,” said Mustafa.

The call was later transferred to another person who claimed to be a police officer from the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

The second suspect said that a warrant of arrest had been issued against her and later asked to provide all of her personal information and banking details.

The victim who duly complied with the request also transferred money from her Tabung Haji account amounting to RM4,700 to a CIMB bank account under the name of ‘Juti Anak Ri’.

The second case involved a 26-year- old female teacher from Betong who lost RM3,000 to the scammers on Sept 17 after receiving a call from a man claiming to be a police corporal.

The suspect during the phone call told the victim that she had an outstanding summons in Pulau Pinang after her rented car was involved in a hit and run accident in Jalan Bertam, Pulau Pinang.

The victim later received another call from another bogus police officer who told the victim she was also involved in drug smuggling and illegal money activities adding she currently had more than RM2 million in her bank account from drugrelated activities.

The vicitm was then told to transfer RM3,000 to a CIMB bank account under the name of ‘Chong Kok Hee’ as bail money on Sept 18.

On Sept 20, the victim received a call from the suspect saying that ‘ investigations’ were currently ongoing.

In the third case, a police report was lodged on Oct 11 by a 21-yearold female sales assistant who claimed she lost RM880 in the scam.

According to Mustafa, the victim received a call from a ‘ bank officer’ who claimed that a RM40,000 personal loan was made under the victim’s name at RHB Melaka which had an outstanding amount of RM3,795.

“The victim who denied having applied for the loan was later called by a man who claimed to be a police officer from the Melaka police headquarters.

“The police officer later told the victim that she was involved in drug- related activities and a ‘ warrant’ to shoot her was already issued.

“Moments later, another call was received by the victim from a female police officer who told her to pay a total of RM880 for the ‘ warrant’ to be rescinded,” he said.

Mustafa said the victim complied and duly transferred RM880 to a bank account under the name of ‘ Mohd Azame Bin Gumpar’ after she sold off her gold jewellery adding she was also told to bank in RM4,120 to the same bank account but she however refused as it was nearing the bank’s closing time.