New Scam Hitting Malaysia

[Adrian Wong]

Okay, this is a first person account by my cousin's girlfriend who was almost conned.

WARNING PPL!!!! THERE IS REALLY LOTS OF HIGH- TECH SCAMMERS IN MALAYSIA -
This is a true story

Only recently, I have received a phone call asking if I can do a phone
survey as they are from Hong Kong, just venture into Malaysia recently and
would like to know more about the consumer's taste and buying pattern. I
have answered several questions and at the end of the call, the operator
gave me a set of "numbers". She invited me to attend the opening of their
shop and said that the number is for "lucky draw" purposes.

I did not go for the event but i received a phone call that tells me my
"number" was called out in the cash prizes event and have won a sum of
monies.
The next day, the "event organiser" called me up and said since i did not
attend the event, they have held the prize for me and will "TT" the
"monies" into my bank account. Apparently, I have won RM150k. WOW!!!

I didnt quite believe what i have heard and i refused to give them my bank
account number. Instead I told them to write a cheque for me and wanted to
know more about them.
They gave excuses that they cant send me the cheque but they have opened a
temporary account in one of the top 3 Hong Kong's Bank where they have
placed the monies there and even gave me the account number/ password to
verify with the bank that the account indeed is opened under my name. They
told me to call a number in Hong Kong.

I did call "THE BANK" with the number they provided and true enough, the
"automated voice machine" confirmed that I have HKD300k deposited in "THE
BANK". I almost believed them!!!! They even have a website where they sell
their products where people can buy online. I also called the HOTLINE in
Hong Kong to check if they have branches in Malaysia and they as well
confirmed that, YES they have and they do give out such large sum of cash
prizes.

Luckily, I went one step further and call up the "REAL THE BANK" with a
number i found online from the bank's website. My call was transferred to
several people in the bank (the real bank) AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS
NO SUCH ACCOUNT NUMBER, NO SUCH SERVICE AS TEMPORARY ACCOUNTS, AND THE
NUMBER OF "THE BANK" IS NOT REGISTERED AS ONE OF THEIR BRANCHES, THE
OPERATOR TOLD ME THAT MANY MALAYSIANS, SINGAPOREANS called them as well
asking to confirmed such transactions and she told me that the bank phone
number I used previously to confirmed the "$$$" is a PERSONAL HANDPHONE
NUMBER in Hong Kong.

BEWARE OF SUCH CALLS AND NEVER GIVE THEM YOUR IC NUMBER/BANK ACCOUNT
NUMBER, they will TRANSFER OUT ALL YOUR MONEY INSTEAD OF PUTTING MONEY IN
YOUR ACCOUNT!!!!!! THEY ARE VERY SHOPHISCATED AND HAVE COVERS LOTS OF LOOSE
ENDS TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE IN THEM!!!!
__________________________________________________ __________________


Lok Siao Chze | Executive Senior | Assurance EUMI | PricewaterhouseCoopers
Malaysia |

Watch out, people... If it's too good to be true, it is ALWAYS too good to be true. Don't be greedy! Greed is what allows these con men to cheat even smart people.

[peaz]

this con was published in the newspapers many months back... and I guess some people just never read or never learn from it....

[Adrian Wong]

There's also one where someone will call you up (or using an automated voice mail machine) to tell you that you have missed a court date. They will ask you to call this inspector or some police officer to "handle" the problem.

Needless to say, there is no court case or police officer out to get you. But many people still got fooled into "bribing" the "police officer".

[ZuePhok]

can someone actually withdraw money from your acc using just your acc no? if thats the case these guys can easily pickup 1000 acc no. from the bins in the bank..

[Zenphic]

Scams like these always freak me out. You gotta be vigilant at all times, and sometimes it's better to just say no if you aren't sure

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

can someone actually withdraw money from your acc using just your acc no? if thats the case these guys can easily pickup 1000 acc no. from the bins in the bank..

Nope. But with your full name and IC number as well, they can forge your IC and bank book.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by Zenphic

Scams like these always freak me out. You gotta be vigilant at all times, and sometimes it's better to just say no if you aren't sure

Best thing is to just ignore them... unless you want to play a prank on them to waste their time and money.

[jasperchc]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Best thing is to just ignore them... unless you want to play a prank on them to waste their time and money.

haha, reminded me of the tv series "The Phone Jacker"

YouTube - Fonejacker - Monies

[belikethat]

hmmm upgrades

*using 1 hand to type*

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by jasperchc

haha, reminded me of the tv series "The Phone Jacker"

YouTube - Fonejacker - Monies

Try it.. It can be really entertaining. It could also help prevent them from fooling some other poor sucker. The longer you delay them on the phone, the less time they have to fool someone else.