State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Aibee Ab Ghani said the 64-year-old resident in Bandar Baru Nilai here received a phone call on Sept 20 from a woman purportedly from Pos Malaysia in Kuantan, saying a package sent by him to Kuching, Sarawak, had been intercepted by the Customs Department.

“The victim denied sending any package but the call was immediately connected to the Kuantan police station,” Aibee said in a statement today.

“A man who introduced himself as a police sergeant said an arrest warrant had been issued against him for involvement in a money laundering case.

“On Sept 23, the victim was contacted again by another ‘policeman’ who connected the call to two other ‘officers’ who ordered him to withdraw money from his bank account and remit it to three accounts provided by them while the investigations were underway.”

Aibee said the victim made four transactions to the three accounts the same day.

“The victim only realised that he had been duped after he spoke to his wife. He lodged a report at the Bandar Baru Nilai police station yesterday, claiming a total loss of RM551,111.”

He said police were looking for Muhamad Hasim Zulfahmi and Norhayati Abdullah to assist them in their investigation.