What is Macau Scam?
You receive calls where the scammer impersonates banks or a public official to trick you into disclosing your personal banking details or transfer money into another third-party account.
What to look out for?
1. Calls from authorities using a private number or done after office hours. 
Official business will be done through official channels and usually during office hours. Be wary of calls from private phone numbers claiming that they are persons of authority.
2. Unsolicited calls claiming that you have won a cash prize/lottery.
The caller will usually request for your personal details and banking information in order the “transfer the funds to you”.
3. Fictitious threats with the intention of making you panic.
Scammers want you to panic so that you are more easily tricked! Here are some examples of fictitious threats:
- You have unpaid taxes or have committed tax fraud;
- Your bank account is now frozen or has been hacked; or
- Your investments proceeds are being withheld temporarily.
4. Asking you to URGENTLY transfer funds to a third party account.
The scammer will likely demand immediate payment to address the fictitious threat or to safeguard your money.
How to protect yourself?
1. Do not reveal your personal banking details to anyone.
Banks and authorities will never ask you to reveal sensitive banking details such as your IC, PIN number or password over phone.
2. Do not transfer your money to an unknown third party bank account.
Stay calm. Authorities (e.g. BNM, LHDN, MCMC, PDRM) will not ask you to immediately transfer funds to another account.
3. Always verify the caller identify.
Hang up if the caller is unable to identify themselves properly (e.g. name, email address, official number for you to return call).
