MALAYSIA – A 63-year-old woman lost RM184,500 of her savings after being deceived into believing her son was critically ill and admitted to a hospital.
Kuala Terengganu District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor, said the victim lodged a report at the Kuala Terengganu Police Station at 7.21pm on Wednesday.
According to the victim, she received a phone call from an unknown man on 1 October claiming that her son had been admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor, and urgently needed financial assistance.
The scammer’s tactic worked, leading the victim to make 21 fund transfers into multiple bank accounts between 9 October and 24 November.
Police said the victim later travelled to Kuala Lumpur in an attempt to meet the caller, but was told that the individual had “gone to India”.
“To date, the victim has not been able to locate her son or the man who contacted her.
“Realising she had been scammed, she lodged a police report after suffering losses amounting to RM184,500,” said Azli.
He confirmed that the money involved was the victim’s personal savings. The case is now being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating – Berita Harian
🔍 HackWarn.com Analysis
Why Did This Scam Succeed?
This incident shows several common psychological and social engineering tactics used by scammers:
1. Emotional Manipulation (Family Emergency Scam) – Scammers target the victim’s fear and love for family members. The claim that a loved one is hurt, hospitalised, or in danger triggers panic reducing the ability to think rationally.
2. Sense of Urgency – The scammer created immediate pressure (“your son needs money now”) to prevent the victim from verifying the story with hospitals, authorities, or family members.
3. Isolation of the Victim – The scammer ensured the victim acted alone by maintaining control of the narrative and not allowing time for the victim to confirm details with her actual son.
4. Multiple Transactions Over Time – The scam was stretched over 21 bank transfers across more than a month, indicating sustained manipulation and trust-building by the scammer.
5. Exploiting Trust in Institutions – By mentioning a legitimate hospital (Sungai Buloh Hospital), the scammer increased credibility and reduced suspicion.
🚨 Immediate Action: What You Need To Do?
Anyone who suspects they are caught in a similar situation should immediately:
1. Verify the Caller
Always confirm directly with the hospital, police, or your family member. Never rely on caller-provided numbers.
2. Stop All Payments Immediately
If something feels suspicious, freeze further transfers or transactions at once.
3. Contact Your Bank
Request:
- Transaction freeze
- Recall attempts
- Fraud investigation assistance
Time is critical. Earlier reports increase the chance of recovery.
4. Lodge a Police Report
Provide:
- Phone numbers used
- Transaction receipts
- Chat logs or call recordings
- Bank details involved
This supports criminal investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
5. Inform Your Family
Let family members know especially elders, so they do not fall for similar scams.
6. Share Awareness
Cases like this should be openly discussed to prevent others from becoming victims of emergency-based scams.
