Mukah company loses nearly RM1 mln after scammer dupes accountant into transferring funds

SIBU (May 24): A company in Mukah suffered nearly RM1 million in losses after its accountant was duped by phone scammers into believing the business was being investigated for money laundering activities.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata in a statement today said the accountant, a 22-year-old China national, received a phone call in the middle of this month from an individual claiming to be from the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia.

“The suspect told the woman that there was a problem with her passport in regards to her entering and exiting Malaysia.

“She was then asked about her work and place of employment, before being told that someone in her company was being investigated for money laundering,” he said.

He said the woman was instructed to transfer the company’s funds – totaling some RM980,000 – into two accounts provided by the suspect for investigation purposes, which she carried out in five transactions.

“The suspect promised that the money would be returned by the end of May after the investigation was completed, and also instructed her to delete all records of the phone calls between them.”

Mancha said the woman, realising later she had likely been scammed, filed a police report on Thursday.

“At the time the police report was filed, none of the company’s money has been returned,” he said.