A food distribution company lost RM970,000 after one of its employee was allegedly tricked into transferring company funds to scammers posing as her manager on WhatsApp.
The incident happened yesterday, with the 31-year-old employee later lodging a police report after discovering she had been deceived.
Scammer allegedly posed as company manager on WhatsApp
Muallim district police chief Supt Khalid Mohamad said the victim received a WhatsApp message from someone she believed was her company manager.
Initial investigations found that the manager’s mobile phone was believed to have been hacked, allowing the suspect to impersonate the manager and instruct the employee to carry out several financial transactions on behalf of the company.
Trusting the instructions, the clerk transferred a total of RM970,000 through three separate transactions into two different bank accounts provided by the suspect.
Victim only became suspicious when more money was requested
According to Khalid, the suspect continued asking the clerk to make additional transfers, causing her to grow suspicious.
She then contacted her actual manager to verify the instructions and was told that no such payments had been authorised. Realising she had fallen victim to a scam, the employee immediately lodged a police report.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. Police also reminded members of the public to contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) by calling 997 immediately if they suspect they have been scammed, as quick action improves the chances of freezing the transferred funds before they can be withdrawn.
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