Scammers are everywhere. As reported on The Star and FreeMalaysiaToday, a 76-year-old woman from Penang lost RM1.84mil in savings, pawned jewellery and borrowed money to conmen in a phone scam.

Balik Pulau Officer In Charge of Police District (OCPD) Supt A. Anbalagan said the woman initially received a call, allegedly from a courier service company, saying a parcel she has sent out contains illegal items.

In June, a customer service representative from the company called the victim, informing her that the parcel she sent out contained an identification card and eight ATM cards.

A scammer who claimed to be a ‘policeman’ then spoke to her and said she was a suspect involved in a RM1.48mil money-laundering syndicate and out of fear, she complied with his instructions, including depositing RM1.84mil in five transactions in July.

“The scammers then told her to empty all her savings accounts and hand over RM1.48 million before Bank Negara and police froze her accounts and that she must also pay RM1 million in a bond to avoid arrest. They told her not to tell anyone, and said she should check in with them every two days,” said Anbalagan.

The victim handed over five tranches of cheques, paid to bank accounts belonging to a company and a developer company. The woman came to her son for help after she ran out of money and he lodged a police report on Tuesday at the Bayan Baru Police Station after suspecting something was wrong.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.