Kuantan: A former factory manager lost over RM221,000 after falling victim to a phone scam last May.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman stated that the 59-year-old woman was initially contacted by an individual posing as a hospital staff member, alleging she had made an insurance claim. The call was then connected to a supposed police sergeant who accused her of involvement in bank account transactions linked to money laundering and firearms purchases.

The victim was threatened with the issuance of a warrant of arrest should she fail to cooperate and was instructed to prepare a bail amount of RM378,500. Consequently, she transferred her savings into her own bank account between August 1 and 9 and provided her bank card details to the suspect for purported investigation purposes.

On August 27, the woman discovered her savings had dwindled to RM109.78 and realized she had been conned after being asked to pay an additional RM150,000. Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman confirmed that the victim lodged a report at the Kuantan District Police Headquarters yesterday, and the case is under investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code.