Marine Biologist Loses RM500,000 To Phone Scam

IPOH, July 10 (Bernama) -- A marine biology officer lost RM500,000 after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate in an incident last May.

Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the 44-year-old man, who works with a private company, lodged a police report at the Ipoh District Police Headquarters yesterday.

"Initial police investigations revealed that on May 14, 2025, the victim received a phone call from an unknown number claiming he was involved in money laundering activities.

 "The following day, the victim was contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer from the Pahang Police Contingent Headquarters, who then connected him to another person claiming to be an investigating officer from Bukit Aman," he said in a statement today.

Noor Hisam said the victim, believing the syndicate’s claims,  proceeded to transfer a total of RM500,000 via online transactions and automated teller machines (ATM)  to nine different accounts.

Therefore, he advised the public not to easily believe calls from unknown numbers claiming to be from the police, the Inland Revenue Board, banks, courts, couriers and other agencies accusing you of being involved in a crime, debt or suspicious packages.

“I asked to transfer money to a so-called security account or to provide banking details or a one-time password (OTP), do not panic. Do not share personal information, end the call immediately and verify the matter with the relevant official agency,” he added.

-- BERNAMA