Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

An 80-year-old retired bank manager in Penang has lost his entire life savings of RM680,781 after falling victim to a cruel phone scam. The syndicate pretended to be officers from Cyber Security Putrajaya and the police, tricking him into believing he was involved in a crime and needed to clear his name.

Scammers Pretend to Be Cybersecurity Officers

The elderly victim, who spent decades working as a bank manager before retirement, received a phone call on June 12. The caller claimed to be from Cyber Security Putrajaya and told him that his phone number had been blacklisted for allegedly spreading false information online. The elderly man, who had always followed the law, became very anxious and worried upon hearing this.

Fake Police Threaten Arrest for Money Laundering

The scammer then transferred the call to another person who introduced himself as a police officer from Alor Setar Police Station. This so-called police officer told him that his bank account was linked to money laundering activities. The caller said that because of this, his bank account would be frozen, and he could be arrested at any time if he did not follow their instructions immediately.

Victim Transfers RM680,781 to New Accounts

Fearing arrest and humiliation, the elderly man listened carefully as the scammers told him what to do next. To clear his name and prove his innocence, the scammers instructed him to open two new bank accounts. They said these accounts would be used to monitor his funds to confirm that he was not involved in any illegal activity.
Between June 19 and June 23, following every instruction given to him, the retired banker transferred a total of RM680,781 into the two new accounts. The scammers continued to assure him that this was only for investigation purposes and that his money was safe.

Scammers Demand Bank Cards and Documents

But the cruel scam did not stop there. The scammers also told him to place all his ATM cards, credit cards, and important bank documents into an envelope and leave it on a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electrical box near a bank in Tanjung Bunga. They claimed that the documents would be collected by officers for investigation. The elderly man, who had always respected authorities, believed everything and followed their instructions without questioning them.

Victim Realises He Has Been Scammed

On June 26, when he finally checked his bank accounts, he was shocked and heartbroken to see that all his money had been transferred out to unknown third-party accounts. Realising he had been scammed, he lodged a police report at the Timur Laut Commercial Crime Investigation Division.

Police Confirm Case and Warn Public

Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin confirmed the case in a statement. He said that the scammers targeted the victim by creating fear and confusion, a common tactic used to trap elderly victims who trust authority figures.

Authorities Advise Public to Stay Alert

Police are now investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud. They have reminded the public to be careful of phone calls from unknown people, especially those claiming to be from government departments or the police. Real officers will never ask for personal banking details, instruct people to transfer money to other accounts, or tell them to leave their bank cards and documents in public places.

Family Members Urged to Protect Elderly From Scams

Authorities have also urged family members to talk to their elderly parents and grandparents about such scams to protect them from losing their life savings to heartless criminals who prey on their trust and fear.