JEMPOL: A factory worker who was looking forward to having a good time with a call girl ended up being cheated of RM11,300 in a phone scam here.

       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 call girl services.

       “The victim was shown photographs of several beautiful women and decided to pick one of them.

       “Although the victim was initially told by the man that the service would cost him RM300, the suspect then hiked up the price as the woman picked by the victim was apparently among the prettier ones,” he said in a statement.

       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 suspect also asked the victim to send him a copy of his identity card as proof of payment and the latter did so.

       “Although the victim made several transactions, the suspect kept asking for more money 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,” he said, adding that he then lodged a police report.

       In an unrelated case, Supt Hoo said a mechanic lost RM70,000 after being accused by a so-called policeman of being involved in money laundering in another phone scam.

       He said on May 25, the 56-year-old man from Kampung Geddes near here first received a call from a man 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 a Sjn Lee from the Ipoh police station.

       “After a short conversation, this Sjn Lee accused the victim of being involved in money laundering activities,” he said.

       Supt Hoo said when the victim denied this, Sjn Lee told him to transfer his savings into an account while the police probed the case.

       He also warned the victim that if he refused to do so, he would be immediately arrested.

       Sjn Lee also promised the victim 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 so-called 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 which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.