MELAKA: A retired teacher was in tears as she lodged a police report after she lost almost RM250,000 to scammers who had misled her into believing she had been linked to a money laundering case.

       The 60-year-old lodged the report in Alor Gajah on April 8, saying she had been conned by someone impersonating as a Health Ministry officer.

       She was told that she had committed an offence by allowing another person to misuse her identity to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.

       She was also accused of being involved in an illegal currency exchange.

       Melaka Commercial Crime chief Supt E. Sundra Rajan said the retiree was then contacted by a man claiming to be a police officer who could help her “settle the matter”.

       He said the fraudster asked the woman for details of her bank accounts and told her to transfer money to another bank account.

       On April 8, she found that her savings had been emptied.

       Supt Sundra said the scammer had used a similar method to also fleece a 21-year-old student, who subsequently lodged a report on April 8 at the Batu Berendam police station.

       He said the second victim had lost RM12,000 to the scammer.

       “Both reports are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating,” he added.