What is a Macau Scam?

A Macau scam is a type of phone scam where criminals impersonate government agencies (such as the police, court, Inland Revenue Board, Bank Negara Malaysia, or customs officers) to scare victims into transferring money. They usually claim that you are involved in a crime, owe taxes, or have illegal packages and demand payment to "clear your name." 

How to spot a Macau Scam? (Common Warning Signs)

  1. You receive a sudden call from someone claiming to be from a government agency or bank.
  2. They accuse you of being involved in a crime or say there’s a warrant for your arrest.
  3. You are told to keep the matter secret and not inform anyone even, your family.
  4. You are asked to transfer money to a “safe” account to verify or protect your funds.
  5. The caller becomes aggressive or urgent, threatening arrest if you don’t cooperate.

How to prevent Macau Scams?

  1. Stay calm and don’t panic when receiving such calls.
  2. Hang up and call the official hotline of the agency or bank to verify.
  3. Never give out banking info, OTP, or IC number over the phone.
  4. Don’t transfer money to anyone claiming to be an officer as real officers don’t ask that.
  5. Educate your family members, especially elderly or vulnerable individuals.

Example of Macau Scam Scenario:

Ms. Tan received a phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer. The caller said her identity was used to open a fake bank account involved in money laundering. She was told that to avoid arrest, she must transfer RM20,000 to a Bank Negara “safe account” for investigation. Afraid and confused, she followed the instructions. Later, she found out the call was a scam. The money was gone, and the number could not be traced.

What Went Wrong:

  1. Ms. Tan believed the caller without verifying the information.
  2. She panicked and acted under pressure.
  3. She transferred money without checking with any official source.

Lesson Learned:

  • Government or bank officials will never ask you to transfer money or share sensitive information over the phone.
  • Always stay calm and verify through official contact numbers.
  • Don’t fall for threats as real agencies follow proper legal procedures, not phone calls.