KOTA KINABALU: A nurse lost RM50,000 of her savings after being deceived by a Macau scam syndicate claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and police.

       The "officers" made her divulge her bank account details by claiming that there was an arrest warrant issued in her name as she had unpaid taxes of RM38,800 owed by a company purportedly under her name.

       Beaufort OCPD Deputy Supt Yusoff Zaki Mat Yaacob said the 44-year-old nurse at a hospital in the district claimed that she received the call around 3.30pm on Sunday (March 27).

       "The victim claimed to have received a phone call from an individual claiming to be an LHDN staff member informing her of the arrears in taxes owed by her 'company'.

       "The call was then forwarded to two men claiming to be police officers with the Commercial Crime Investigation Department Unit who told her that an arrest warrant had been issued against her.

       "The victim panicked and gave her bank account details and passwords of her two accounts," DSP Yusoff Zaki said on Monday (March 28).

       She lodged a police report at 10.30pm on Sunday after realising that a total of RM50,000 was transferred out via the DuitNow app at about 9pm.

       He said police were investigating the case for cheating.

       DSP Yusoff advised the public to be more careful and not to entertain any phone calls from individuals they did not know, especially those throwing names of authorities and demanding bank account details and passwords.