A 69-year-old man transferred his life savings in fear after scammers posed as police and court officials.

A retired Johor civil servant has lost RM308,000 after being deceived by a phone scam syndicate impersonating Malaysian police officers and court officials.

The Deceptive Call

According to Johor Bahru Selatan district police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat, the 69-year-old victim from Kampung Melayu Majidee received a call at 11am on June 3 from a man claiming to be “Sergeant Zuraidi” of the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters. The caller accused the pensioner of involvement in money laundering and terrorism financing — charges that immediately terrified the unsuspecting retiree.

The Fake Court Follow-Up

Moments later, the man received another call from someone claiming to represent a court office, instructing him to make payments to avoid arrest and imprisonment. Fearing legal consequences, he followed their directions and began transferring his savings as “bail money” and “verification fees.”

44 Transfers, Four Bank Accounts

Between June 30 and October 9, the victim made 44 money transfers totaling RM308,000 to four different bank accounts. Police investigations later found that these accounts had no previous records of scam activity, suggesting they may have been newly opened or used as “mule accounts” to obscure the syndicate’s identity.

Suspicion and Realisation

The retired officer only realised he had been conned when the scammers demanded even more payments. At that point, his doubts grew, and he contacted authorities. Police confirmed that he had been a victim of an elaborate phone scam operation.

Police Warning to the Public

Assistant Commissioner Raub reminded the public that no police officer or government agency will ever ask for money transfers to personal accounts for investigation or bail purposes. “Always verify with the nearest police station or official hotline before making any financial transaction,” he said.

Investigation Underway

The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries penalties including imprisonment, fines, or both. Authorities are working to trace the individuals behind the fraudulent operation and have urged anyone receiving similar calls to report them immediately.

The incident serves as a stark warning to Malaysians, particularly the elderly, about the growing sophistication of phone scams. As syndicates adopt official titles and legal threats to intimidate victims, vigilance and verification remain the best defences against financial fraud.

Sources: Malay Mail (2025) , The Vibes (2025)

Keywords: Johor Civil Servant, Phone Scam Syndicate, Petaling Jaya Police, Sergeant Zuraidi, RM308000 Fraud