A businessman in his 70s from Kuala Krai, Kelantan, lost RM6.7 million to Macau scammers impersonating a Johor court officer and a Johor contingent headquarters police officer.

“The 'court officer' called the victim and said he had a pending case involving the registration of a company in Johor. Although the victim said it was not true, the call was transferred to the fake police officer who said his case was being investigated and he had to appear in court.

“Afterwards, feeling unsettled (from the revelation), the victim began transferring between RM80,000 and RM500,000, between October and yesterday, to a bank account number provided by the 'officer',” Kelantan police chief Hasanuddin Hassan told reporters today.

After the businessman realised something was amiss, he made a report at the Kota Bharu police station yesterday.

“This case of fraud is the biggest this year. We urge people to be more careful and not easily tricked by fake threats over the phone. 

"In this situation, perhaps the victim was easily manipulated because he’s elderly,” Hasanuddin added after attending a handover of duties ceremony between Kelantan commercial crime investigation department acting chief, DSP Ahmad Arifin, and new department chief, Supt Ahmad Azizul Mohamed.

– Bernama