Johor police chief M Kumar said the victim filed a report yesterday stating that a man had rung him up early last month and introduced himself as a police officer based in a northern state.

“The victim was told that his bank’s automated teller card was found during a police raid. The ‘police officer’ then accused him of being involved in moneylaundering,” he said, according to Berita Harian.

The victim said the phone call was then transferred to another person who claimed to be a police officer named “Insp Lee Kha Seng”, who offered assistance to prevent the victim’s bank accounts from being frozen.

The bogus police officer advised the victim to transfer all his money into a specified bank account for “safe-keeping” while the police conducted their investigations.

The victim believed the call was genuinely from the police as the “inspector” had all his personal details.

The victim also received via WhatsApp a letter showing a court letterhead authorising investigations, arrests and asset seizure to be carried out.

The victim became frightened and transferred RM520,000 as instructed.

Kumar said the managing director only realised he was being scammed when he was repeatedly pressured to make additional transfers.

“He then lodged a police report yesterday,” said Kumar.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.