IPOH: Phone scam syndicates are found to be misusing the police logo or state police chiefs' signature to cheat victims, says Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.
The Perak police chief said the police have detected the new modus operandi used by scammers to cheat victims and had received two reports on June 14 so far.
Comm Mohd Yusri said the scammers would send pictures of an arrest warrant or notice of summons with the police's logo or state police chief's signature to intimidate victims.
"In the first case, an eatery operator in Teluk Intan received a call, alleging that there was a parcel which contained illegal goods under his name.
"The owner was also alleged to be involved in drugs and money laundering activities, with an arrest warrant out for him," Comm Mohd Yusri said in a statement on Monday (June 19).
"A notice of summons, which had the police logo and state police chief's position, was sent to the owner's mobile phone.
"Fortunately, the owner did not fall for it and lodged a police report," he added.
In the second incident, Comm Mohd Yusri said a university lecturer had fallen victim to a phone scam on June 14.
"The caller had identified himself as a policeman, and had sent the notice of summons with the police logo and Perlis police chief's signature.
"The victim was accused of being involved with drug trafficking and money laundering of about RM2.8mil," he said.
"The victim ended up getting cheated into revealing his personal and bank details, losing RM98,000 in the process through money transfer," he added.
Comm Mohd Yusri said phone scams are the main contributor to the online scam crime index in Perak.
He said in 2022, some 358 cases have been reported, with losses totalling to about RM15mil.
"Between January and May this year, some 181 cases involving phone scams have been investigated, involving a total of about RM8mil in losses," he added.
Comm Mohd Yusri said among the modus operandi used by phone scam syndicates, included introducing themselves as personnel from enforcement agencies, banks, court, insurance and delivery service companies.
"They will call and claim that there would be some issues related to money transaction, debt, summonses or arrears.
"Others included being involved in illegal drug use, parcel delivery and allegations that the victim was involved in illegal activities," he said.
He said syndicates will also send messages to victims, informing them about some payment charges that did not go through, baiting them to contact the phone numbers given.
"If someone calls them, they will be told that there are issues with the payment card or that they are involved in illegal activities.
"All these tactics used are meant to cheat and intimidate the victims into making payment.
"We would like to inform the people to never trust in any matters related to money or banking via phone calls," he said.
"The people are again reminded that the police will not deal in any crime-related matters through phone calls, apart from informing them to meet face-to-face.
"Folk who received such scam calls could always refer the matter to the nearest police station for verification," he added.
