Cops: If you are asked to transfer cash then you are being scammed

The police are once again reminding the public not to transfer cash into other bank accounts following telephone conversations with strangers after a 28-year-old doctor lost RM92,800 in yet another scam.

The victim who works at a government health facility here had on Tuesday received a call from a male suspect claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) accusing the doctor of failing to pay his income tax and for being involved in money laundering, drugs and firearms cases.

The victim was first told he owed LHDN RM38,000 in arrears, said Negri Sembilan commercial crime chief Supt Aibee Ab Ghani.

“After talking to the doctor, the suspect transferred the call supposedly to the Pahang police contingent where the victim was told that he was involved in the other crimes.

“He was then told to transfer all his savings into other bank accounts to allow the authorities to probe his case under the Anti Money Laundering Act,” he said.

Supt Aibee said the victim went to the bank on the same day and transferred RM92,800 into several bank accounts given by the suspect.

“The victim then decided to do some checks of his own and realised that he has been duped. He then lodged a report,” he said.

In a separate case, a 51-year-old tailor from Bahau lost RM80,954 in a non-existent loan scheme, said Supt Aibee.

The incident happened last month after the victim saw an advertisement in Facebook offering loans to those interested.

“On May 29, the victim received a message that her loan application for RM250,000 had been approved.

“However, she was told to bank in RM80,954 into separate accounts so that the process could be continued before the loan was disbursed,” he said.

The victim then carried out 26 transactions and even received a short message service purportedly from a bank saying that her application was being processed.

However, she then tried contacting the suspect but failed to reach him. The victim lodged a report upon realising it was a scam.

Supt Aibee advised the public not to entertain any calls asking for details of their identity cards or bank accounts.