Image source - Maybank @ Kampung Bharu - Air Itam, Penang (opencity.my)
As scams continue to go rampant, here's a miraculous story of how Maybank managed to save a customer, Fatimah, from losing RM150,000 to individuals impersonating enforcement agency officers. It happened in a Maybank Kampung Baru branch whereby an employee thwarted the scammers from making the transaction.
For context, Fatimah, 57, is a government contract worker who got caught up in a phone call purportedly from her bank, alleging her involvement in unauthorised transactions and illicit mule account activities. The caller also orchestrated a series of manipulative phone calls to individuals posing as representatives from various enforcement and regulatory agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police and Bank Negara Malaysia.
In a call lasting more than four hours, Fatimah was instructed by the scammers to withdraw RM150,000 from her savings account at the Maybank Kampung Baru branch in Penang. Fatimah said she was shaken by the whole ordeal, and was asked to lie to the bank teller and state that the monies were for house renovation purposes.
Fortunately, Siti, the Assistant Branch Manager of Maybank Kampung Baru was around and quickly restricted the transaction. Fatimah recalled Siti guided her through the process of filing a case report with the bank and froze her account to safeguard her hard-earned money. Siti's calm reassurance and sound advice prevailed over the relentless call attempts by the scammer to disrupt the proceedings.
According to Maybank, the Bank has successfully protected customers from losing RM6.4 million to financial scams via branch channels in 2023. To defend against scams, the Bank encourages customers to always stay alert and observe the following practices:
- Be cautious of calls and/or messages from strangers claiming to be from the authorities, banks, utility providers and enforcement/government agencies such as Polis DIraja Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia or Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri;
- Never reveal your banking details. Customers are reminded that banks and the authorities will not request your banking details over the phone; and
- Do not transfer funds to unknown accounts. The authorities and enforcement agencies will not demand for immediate fund transfers to unknown third-party accounts.
In the event customers suspect that they have been scammed, they should immediately call the National Scam Resource Centre hotline at 997 or Maybank’s 24/7 Fraud hotline at 03-5891 4744 for assistance. You can visit the Maybank Security Tips webpage and the Anti-Scam National Resource Centre to learn more as well.
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