JEMPOL: A factory worker tyring to hire the services of a sex worker for RM300 ended up being cheated out of RM11,300 in a phone scam.

       Jempol OCPD Supt Hoo Chang Hook said the 36-year-old victim was at his workplace on June 4 when he received a message on WhatsApp from a man offering callgirl services.

       "The victim was shown photographs of several beautiful women and he decided to pick one of the girls.

       "Although the victim was initially told that the service would cost him RM300, the man hiked up the charge as the girl picked by the victim was apparently among the prettier ones," he said in a statement Monday (June 6).

       Supt Hoo said the victim was told to pay the amount by topping up cash into an online application at a convenience store in Bahau.

       The man also told the victim to send him a copy of his MyKad as proof of payment and the latter did as asked.

       "Although the victim made several transactions, the man kept asking for more and was told that the balance would be returned later.

       "The victim was also threatened that he should keep doing so if he wanted all of his money back.

       "He only realised that he was being duped when he confided in a friend," said Supt Hoo, and added that the man then lodged a police report.

       In another phone scam, Supt Hoo said a mechanic lost RM70,000 after being accused by a bogus policeman of being involved in money laundering activities.

       He said the 56-year-old man from Kg Geddes near here received a call from a man on May 25 who accused him of taking free medicine from the Ampang Baru government clinic in Ipoh on eight different occasions.

       "The call was then apparently transferred to one Sjn Lee from the Ipoh police station.

       "After a short conversation, Sjn Lee accused the victim of being involved in money laundering activities.

       “When the man denied it, Sjn Lee told him to transfer his savings into an account while the police probed the case and warned the victim that if he refused to do so, he would be immediately arrested,” said Supt Hoo.

       He added that Sjn Lee also promised the man that his money would be returned if police investigations showed that he was not involved in any illegal activity.

       The victim believed Sjn Lee and then transferred his savings into two different accounts given by the bogus cop.

       However, he later realised that he was being conned and lodged a report.

       Both cases are being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.