Ex-lecturer loses RM201,000 in phone scam after being accused of money laundering

KUANTAN: A 59-year-old retiree lost RM201,000 in an insurance scam after fraudsters manipulated her into transferring all her savings through a series of phone calls.

The former lecturer not only drained her savings but was also persuaded to take out a bank loan after being falsely accused of money laundering.

Scam cases remain a major concern for the authorities, with Malaysians losing RM3.6 billion to commercial crimes in the first nine months of this year. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/10/1294282/malaysia-loses-rm36-billion-commercial-crimes-first-nine-months-year)

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the victim’s ordeal began when she received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a representative of an insurance company in February this year.

“The caller informed her that she had unclaimed insurance amounting to RM68,000. The call was then connected to several other individuals, including someone posing as a police officer and a deputy public prosecutor, who alleged she was involved in money laundering.

“The victim was instructed to open a new bank account and transfer all her savings into it for ‘investigation purposes’. She transferred all her funds, including the bank loan, into the account between April 9 and June 12 this year,” he said in a statement today.

Yahaya said the victim, who had not received any updates from the suspects, lodged a police report at the Kuantan district police headquarters yesterday.

He advised the public not to panic or share personal information when receiving calls from unknown individuals, and to verify account numbers through https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my

before making any transactions.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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