SCAM callers resort to many tactics in efforts to dupe their victims. One of these is to misuse the names of the authorities such as the police, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and even ministries.
Did scammers claim a Sarawak man's mobile number was on a fake MCMC watchlist in an effort to cheat him?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Sarawak police said a 69-year-old retiree who had previously worked in the oil and gas industry had reported such a scam on June 6.
In a statement on Wednesday (June 7), Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the victim had told the police that he had been contacted on Nov 19, 2022.
"The woman on the line told him that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had detected that a mobile number registered to his name was used for a crime and was on a watchlist," Comm Mohd Azman said.
He added that the victim was instructed to open a bank account with a new authorised mobile number and transfer RM390,000 into it.
The scammers also instructed the victim to sell all his shares in a financial instution, valued at RM59,263 and transfer the proceeds to the new account.
"The victim only realised he had been scammed when he checked the account on May 30, 2023, and realised there was only RM63.77 left in it," he said, adding that the victim then made a police report.
Comm Mohd Azman advised the public not to entertain phone calls from unknown numbers and to always check with the police, banks or the relevant agencies for confirmation of any details.
"Do not panic when faced by claims of being involved in crime, especially if you have not done any wrong," he added.
He said the public can contact the National Scam Response Center (NSRC) at 997 or follow the @CyberCrimeAlertRMP and @JSJKPDRM social media pages if in doubt.
They can also verify bank accounts and suspicious phone numbers through at http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule, he said.
