I just know I got into well-planned scam scheme

niicklim — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 18:02:42 +0800

Hi all, before I go into details, my purpose are as follows:
1) To raise awareness to community that scammers are well-planned & way smarter ahead than before
2) To get suggestions and help for myself from the community on how to move forward

To prevent the scam to extend further, I will try my best to not using any real name or information/data and keep it to minimum. I am paranoid and do not wish to expose any more personal data. It is very concerning to me. Hope you can understand my concern. Thanks.

Let us start. It is quite lengthy, but may be very informational for everyone.
I really hope to get help, at the same time raise awareness to everyone at this tough financial time. I don't want anyone to get into a scam like me.

My chronological experience:
Pre-scam:
1) I am a fresh graduate auditor who just worked for months. One day, I just feel like want to register a new credit card under H Bank, but the requirement is unmotivating (need to pay annual fees). Then, I gave up the registration.
2) After 1 week, the credit card sales department under H Bank (let's call her "H Bank's PIC #1") contacted me and suggested that I can waive the annual fee under certain requirements. I was happy and proceed to the registration. However, my EPF documents are blurry, H Bank's PIC #1 requested me to upload a clearer one, but I didn't really remember it.
3) H Bank's PIC #1 desperately asked me to upload the clearer EPF docs every few days. In the end, I uploaded.
4) After few days, H Bank's PIC #2 called me and told me the credit card is approved, and will be sent to my house soon.

-By right, story will end here. BUT, NOPE!-

2 weeks later, I received a weird call
My card hasn't even reach to my house, and I already realized I get scammed? or is it?

Scamming process:
1) I was eating lunch, suddenly I receive a call from "H Bank" to confirm a RM4k transaction.
2) I rejected such transaction, then it automatically brought me to "customer service". "H Bank's PIC #3" asked me why I reject the transaction.
3) I told "H Bank's PIC #3" that I don't even have credit card, how the hell I have such RM4k transactions.
4) The "H Bank's PIC #3" told me someone has been using my name to apply credit card, and purchased bitcoin for 3 times (each time RM4-5k).
5) I was very concerned. "H Bank's PIC #3" immediately told me that I should lodge report to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). "H Bank's PIC #3" then told me the credit card number, when the credit card is applied, and the previous 3 transactions made.
6) Then, "H Bank's PIC #3" transferred my call to "BNM". "BNM's PIC #1" ask me "what is the situation?". I told him "probably someone misuse my information to buy bitcoin." [It is still in the same call]
7) "BNM's PIC #1" told me "alright, I will transfer you to our Investigation Department". I was then transferred to another "BNM's PIC #2". "BNM's PIC #2" then introduced himself as a BNM Investigation Department officer with "his name". [It is still in the same call]
8) "BNM's PIC #2" told me in a professional tone and say "this will be recorded, and then I will be asking you some questions, how it happened, and your personal information to help in our investigation." I told him on the whole process what happened. I told him someone used my information to apply credit card + buy bitcoin.
9) Then, "BNM's PIC #2" said "alright. Now I would like to reconfirm your banking information. Please tell me how many banking accounts you have, how much money inside, do you have any other credit cards/loans?". I told him everything (luckily I only told him on surface & vague information, and luckily I am not super rich.)
10) Then, "BNM's PIC #2" told me "alright, we will investigate, and file a report to you within 3 working days. Please do not tell anyone about our conversation as it will affect our investigation. This is confidential. Based on our suspect, probably is the bank's PIC might misuse your information and did all this things, but alright, we will investigate for you. If we really found out that the bank's PIC misuse your information, PIDM will protect you, so no worries on the misuse of money. However, if we found out that you are lodging a fake report, you will be responsible for that bitcoin purchases, and probably will be taken into custody. Thanks for your time, we will let you know again."
11) Then, "BNM's PIC #2" hanged off.

At this point, I really thought I am safe.
BUT....
NOPE!

2 weeks passed, I DIDN'T received any report from BNM.
My credit card from H Bank arrived to my house. Remember the credit card number I mentioned above?
I compared both credit card number given by "H Bank's PIC #3" and the credit card that just reached my house. It is completely DIFFERENT.
This worried me.
I immediately lodged another BNM report myself to ask about this whole problem.

How I realized I get scammed:
1) Today (6 August), 2-3 days after I lodged the new BNM report, BNM's PIC called me and told me that she don't understand what I was talking.
2) She told me, "BNM's PIC #2" doesn't exist. I didn't lodge any report at all in my entire life based on BNM's system.
3) She told me, BNM's complain process doesn't work this way. At the very least, a bank will NEVER ALLOWED to transfer call to BNM. BNM is completely independent. If a consumer feel the bank's PIC is fishy, consumer is encouraged to complain directly to the bank's customer service, BNM, or any other independent regulators themselves.
4) She told me, BNM's staff will never ask personal & sensitive information like bank's account amount, how many credit cards/loans the person have, etc.
5) She suggested me to lodge police report.

-END-
And here I am, typing this out.
My conclusion:
1) There is a possibility H Bank's PIC #2 might misuse my information to apply credit cards and misuse the credit cards by selling it illegally to random people.
2) It is highly likely, the purchase of bitcoin thingy doesn't exist at all, while at the same time, "H Bank's PIC #3", "BNM's PIC #1" & "BNM's PIC #2" are scammers. It is well-planned scamming scheme where each of the scammers play their role properly. They gave the impression where you get "scammed" and they are nice "bankers" + "regulators" who are trying to help you. Where in the end, you totally trust that you were "scammed", and you need their "help", you will trust them completely and shared your personal & sensitive information to them openly, hoping that they will be able to help you.

Who knows... what will happen next?

As of now, my money are still safe, but I am very concerned what might happen.
Still, I am grateful that I am lucky enough that I didn't shared too much of my information to the fictitious PICs.
And, I am lucky enough that I am an auditor. I more or less know how Malaysia conventional banks & BNM works, so I shared my information at minimum.
But, it may be dangerous for others as not everyone know. Knowledge really is power & asset for the individual.

In this tough time, I very hope nobody get scammed, especially in this type of well-planned scamming scheme.
Thank you for your time reading this. Feel free to share this story to your friends and family, really hope they can be more sceptical and careful when it comes to this kind of phonecall professional scams.

I think I reach to the end.
Lastly, I would like to ask those who are experienced, what should I do next?

I still haven't lodge police report, and don't really know how.
Feel free to help me. It really mean a lot to me as I am would like find peace & comfort from this shit. ><

Thanks in advance.
Have a good day everyone. Stay safe and healthy!

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I just know I got into well-planned scam scheme