IMITATING the voice of friends and family members is the latest tactic being used by online fraudsters to deceive their victims into lending them money, said Petaling Jaya police chief Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal.

He said that after introducing themselves, the suspects would say that the telephone number in use was new.

“The fraudsters would then give bank account numbers, which do not belong to the victims’ friends or family, for the purpose of getting a so-called loan,” he said in a statement tonight.

He said the victims would only realise they have been duped when they contacted their friends or family members on the original telephone numbers.

At least 20 investigation papers have also been opened on crimes using this method and involving losses of RM250,000, he said.

Nik Ezanee said 78 reports had been received involving losses amounting to almost RM7 million relating to cyber and multimedia crime from January to date. – Bernama, November 28, 2020.