Penang deputy police chief Fisol Salleh said the first victim, a clerk living in Bukit Mertajam, lodged a police report on Dec 19 saying she was scammed out of RM1,026,200.

The woman said she was contacted by scammers in July who claimed to be a postal worker and a police officer. They accused her of being involved in money laundering activities.

“Scared that she would be detained by the police, the victim followed the scammers’ instructions to transfer her husband’s insurance money and savings to 13 separate accounts,” he said at a press conference here.

Fisol said the second victim, a 41-year-old teacher from Seberang Perai Selatan, lost RM203,200 and lodged a police report on Dec 19.

The victim, who was first contacted by scammers last month, took out a bank loan of RM190,000 to avoid being “arrested” by the police.

Another teacher from Seberang Perai Utara also made a police report on Dec 23 after losing RM439,000 to scammers, Fisol added.

“This teacher took out a bank loan for RM300,000 to pay the syndicate. Fifteen transactions were made to eight separate accounts involving a total loss of RM439,000,” he said.

Fisol said further investigations were underway.

“From January until yesterday, Penang police recorded 2,239 cybercrime cases involving a loss of RM79.5 million.

“Out of that, there were 921 Macau scams involving RM27.14 million,” he added.