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A 29-year-old PhD student studying in Penang has claimed he was cheated out of RM847,843.62 in a phone scam
According to Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail, the incident began on 4 August when the victim received a call around 10.30am from a man who introduced himself as an officer from the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.
The caller told the student that a package sent from Malaysia to China, containing his identification card, credit cards, and cheque book, had been intercepted by Shanghai police.
The victim was then connected to another individual who claimed to be a public security officer from Hong An, China, reported the New Straits Times.
"The second suspect alleged that the victim's bank account was involved in an online fraud investigation in China and requested that the victim transfer money to various accounts as part of the investigation," Azizee said.
Between 6 and 26 August, the victim carried out 30 separate transactions, transferring a total of RM847,843.62 into 11 local bank accounts and three cryptocurrency accounts
It was only after speaking to a classmate that the victim realised he had been duped. He subsequently filed a report with the Commercial Crime Investigation Department at the northeast district police headquarters on Thursday, 28 August.
Azizee confirmed that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Police have since issued a reminder to the public to be wary of unsolicited calls, especially those requesting personal or financial details, stressing that scammers often impersonate law enforcement officers or officials from financial institutions.
