SIBU: A retiree in Marudi district has lost RM1.19mil in a Macau scam.

       Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Supt Maria Rasid said in a statement on Thursday (April 14) that the losses were a combination of the victim's savings and loans.

       "The woman, in her early 60s, is a government pensioner. In October last year, she received a phone call from a woman who claimed to be 'Alisya Osman', an officer with Etiqa Takaful in Kuala Lumpur," she said.

       The caller told the victim that on Oct 15, she purportedly made four medical insurance claims when she was admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

       "When she denied this, the call was transferred to another suspect who identified himself as 'Sjn Mejar Fazli Azman' from Pudu police," she added.

       The suspect told the victim that she had to clear her name of the false insurance claim.

       The call was then transferred to another suspect, "Mastura", claiming to be the head of the Criminal Investigation Department.

       The victim was told by "Mastura" that her case had been handed over to a Bukit Aman investigator named "Ani".

       "The victim subsequently called 'Ani' and was told to open a bank account and transfer all her money into it for investigation purposes," said Supt Maria.

       The victim then made 52 transfers amounting to RM1.19mil to nine different accounts between Oct 28 and March 29.

       The victim realised she had been cheated when the money was not returned to her account after the "investigation", Supt Maria added.