KUALA LUMPUR: Police have opened 49 investigation papers related to cases of fraud by a syndicate impersonating National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) officers, involving losses of RM6.79 million, this year.

Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the figure was recorded between Jan 1 and Apr 30.

He said the existence of the NSRC, which is a call centre and operations centre that coordinates rapid response to online financial fraud, especially to track money transferred as a result of online fraud cases, was found to have been manipulated by a fraud syndicate.

Ramli said victims would receive a call from an individual claiming to be an NSRC officer.

He said, the 'officer' involved would then inform the victim that the NSRC would deactivate the victim's phone number due to complaints that the victim's phone number was being used in fraudulent activities.

"For investigation purposes, the call will then be connected to another individual posing as police officer.

"The victim will be instructed to follow all the instructions given until the victim makes a money transfer to the designated bank account," he said.

He said police once again reminded the public that the NSRC only receives calls from the public.

"It is a one-way communication. NSRC will not make calls to any individual.

"Therefore, any call purporting to be from the NSRC is a fraud," he said.

He urged victims to immediately contact the NSRC at 997 to report any incidents.

"Ideally, the call should be made within less than 24 hours so that the chance of blocking the money that has been transferred is higher," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/05/1048272/police-open 49-cases-involving impersonation- nsrc-officials