GEORGE TOWN: A businessman from Port Dickson lost a record RM21mil in a Macau scam after he allegedly revealed his bank Transaction Authorisation Code (TAC) numbers to a “bank official”.
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However, the 63-year-old victim was not from Penang as reported recently, said Selangor Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Asst Comm Azman Ali.
“The victim is a millionaire and has several businesses in Bukit Kemuning, Shah Alam, and Kuala Lumpur.
“From the report that we received from the victim, he is from Port Dickson and not Penang as alleged,” he said briefly when contacted.
The case is believed to be the biggest Macau scam ever recorded by the police for a single victim in recent years.
ACP Azman said the victim lodged a police report in Shah Alam on May 6 after realising that his money had been transferred to other unknown accounts.
It was reported that the victim is a millionaire and founder of a domestic energy company that has a net worth of over RM100mil.
The victim was said to have been duped since November last year after receiving a call from a suspect who claimed to be an officer from a bank.
He was reportedly told by the suspect that his credit card was suspected of being involved in illegal activities and although he denied it, the suspect forwarded the call to another officer claiming to be from Bank Negara.
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The suspect also called the victim again in January this year and asked for his TAC for investigation purposes.
The victim shared his TAC with the suspect as he thought it was for official matters.
It is learnt that two of the victims’ accounts have been frozen by the bank, and after checking, the victim realised his money had been transferred to other unknown accounts.
ACP Azman said the victim lodged a police report on May 6 after realising that a total of RM21mil went missing from his accounts.
When asked if there was any update on the case, ACP Azman declined to comment further as the matter is still in the midst of an investigation.
He, however, advised the public to be wary of the tactics used by scammers to cheat people of their money and urged the public not to share any personal or bank information with strangers in the future.
“Don’t ever reveal your bank information or fall victim to the scammers’ trickery and tactics,” he said, adding that the public should be more careful and not easily fall prey to such scammers.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.-The Star