For a Klang-based physician in his 70s who only wanted to be known as Dr Ram, the message aroused no suspicion although it was from an unknown individual. A scammer impersonating Dr Ram then began reaching out to everyone from his contact list, asking for a loan to tide him over due to an emergency. While some friends contacted the real Dr Ram first to verify the situation, several others acted quickly out of genuine concern. By the time the dust settled, at least eight persons on Dr Ram’s contact list had transferred between RM1,500 and RM3,000 each, with losses totalling about RM15,000. With the help of family members, Dr Ram promptly alerted all those on his contact list before lodging a police report.

Source: The Star April 03, 2026 01:22 UTC