Pahang: A university student lost RM147,000 after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate impersonating Shopee representatives and police officers last month. Pahang Police Chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman reported that the 20-year-old male victim was deceived by a phone call received on January 23, with the caller claiming to be from Shopee and falsely accusing him of advertising illegal items.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the call was transferred to an individual posing as a police officer, who further accused the student of being involved in money laundering activities. The scammer coerced the victim into transferring money to avoid arrest and expunge his record of any alleged criminal charges.

The victim complied by transferring a total of RM47,000 to three separate accounts. Additionally, he surrendered his mother’s gold jewelry, valued at approximately RM100,000, to an unknown woman near his residential area.

Yahaya stated that the victim realized the scam only when his mother inquired about the missing jewelry and the significant reduction in his bank savings.