SMS Cheats Target Professionals

PETALING JAYA, April 24 (Bernama) -- The police are on the trail of a foreign syndicate which hoodwinks unsuspecting local credit card holders into parting with their money.

The syndicate is known to use Bank Negara's name when contacting potential victims, via the short messaging service (SMS) and the telephone.

Initial investigations have revealed that it usually targeted professionals and duped them into believing they had not settled their credt card arrears.

It would also threaten to terminate their credit card services if payment was not prompt.The victims were then instructed to settle the 'arrears' by banking the money in a foreign bank account.

Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed said the police had received about 20 reports relating to the scam, since early this year.

He said that of late, such scams were being carried out almost daily, with the biggest involving a professional who was fleeced of RM43,000.

Arjunaidi was speaking to reporters after opening the new commercial crime and narcotics division at Menara Choi Fok On here.

He said the syndicate was able to dupe victims by using Bank Negara's name when they contacted the victims through the SMS and telephone.

Arjunaidi said the police were unable to track down the syndicate as it changed bank accounts from time to time to avoid detection by the authorities.-- BERNAMA