KUCHING: A 70-year-old retiree here narrowly avoided becoming a victim of an elaborate international scam after seeking help from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau chief, Milton Foo.
Foo revealed the case at a press conference today, stressing the need for public vigilance against increasingly sophisticated fraud syndicates.
The victim first received a call from a Shenzhen number last month.
The caller, a woman claiming to represent Weixin (WeChat), alleged that the retiree owned a second account linked to a fraudulent Malaysian tour company in China.
The retiree was then connected to someone posing as a police officer in Hangzhou through a video call.
The officer, clad in uniform and speaking with a Chinese accent, claimed the retiree was wanted in a RM2.6-million fraud case and that Interpol had been alerted.
Foo said the scammers pressured the retiree into signing a secrecy agreement and even placed her under round-the-clock surveillance via Zoom for three weeks, during which she was required to make daily reports of her activities.
“Later, the syndicate began demanding RM200,000 as bail to avoid detention in China, and this escalated into threats of immediate arrest,” Foo explained.
The retiree, who did not have the money demanded, became confused and distressed before eventually turning to Foo for advice.
He immediately suspected it was a scam and urged her to lodge a report with the Malaysian police.
Foo reminded the public that if there is a genuine court order, it will always be served through the plaintiff’s lawyer, not via phone calls or video links.
“These syndicates prey on fear and trust, especially targeting the elderly. The public must be cautious. If in doubt, cut the call and report to local authorities immediately,” he said.
The victim first received a call from a Shenzhen number last month.
The caller, a woman claiming to represent Weixin (WeChat), alleged that the retiree owned a second account linked to a fraudulent Malaysian tour company in China.
The retiree was then connected to someone posing as a police officer in Hangzhou through a video call.
The officer, clad in uniform and speaking with a Chinese accent, claimed the retiree was wanted in a RM2.6-million fraud case and that Interpol had been alerted.
Foo said the scammers pressured the retiree into signing a secrecy agreement and even placed her under round-the-clock surveillance via Zoom for three weeks, during which she was required to make daily reports of her activities.
“Later, the syndicate began demanding RM200,000 as bail to avoid detention in China, and this escalated into threats of immediate arrest,” Foo explained.
The retiree, who did not have the money demanded, became confused and distressed before eventually turning to Foo for advice.
He immediately suspected it was a scam and urged her to lodge a report with the Malaysian police.
Foo reminded the public that if there is a genuine court order, it will always be served through the plaintiff’s lawyer, not via phone calls or video links.
“These syndicates prey on fear and trust, especially targeting the elderly. The public must be cautious. If in doubt, cut the call and report to local authorities immediately,” he said.