By: Syamilah Yusman and Farzana Rozaidee
“I thought they were real police officers. They knew my name. They knew my late daughter’s name.”
That was how 73-year-old Mariam binti Ahmad described the phone call that changed her life. It began innocently enough, with a caller asking for her daughter, Nor Azura. Mariam explained that her daughter had passed away. Instead of ending the call, the caller continued calmly and told her that her daughter had insurance money registered under Mariam’s name.
Confused and still grieving, Mariam said she had never been informed about any insurance. That was when the conversation took a frightening turn.
The caller claimed that Mariam’s name was linked to money laundering and corruption. She was told that she needed to “clear her name” immediately or face arrest. When Mariam denied the accusation and said she had no money, the caller insisted that official records already showed her involvement.
Soon after, another call came in. This time, the person introduced himself as a police sergeant. He repeated the accusations and warned her that she could be sent to prison, describing in detail what life behind bars would be like. The fear was overwhelming. Mariam said she had never committed any crime, yet she was made to feel that her freedom and safety were at risk.
Over the next two days, the calls did not stop. Different voices took turns. One claimed to be an inspector. Another claimed to be a lawyer. They instructed Mariam not to tell anyone, not even her children. She was told to speak softly and only when she was alone. According to them, her life would be in danger if the matter was revealed.
Isolated and terrified, Mariam followed their instructions. She was guided step by step to withdraw her savings from the bank. When she struggled with online transfers, she was told to ask a stranger for help and to lie about the reason for the transaction. She complied, believing she was cooperating with authorities to protect herself.
By the time the calls stopped, Mariam had lost RM3,400, including money spent on transport arranged by the scammers. She did not eat for days. She was too afraid to leave her house. She believed she was being watched.
It was only after her family intervened and insisted on making a police report that the truth became clear. The callers were not police officers or lawyers. They were scammers who had used her personal information to construct a convincing lie.
Mariam never recovered the money. But what stayed with her most was not the financial loss. It was the fear, the isolation, and the realization that strangers had known enough about her life to turn trust into terror.
Now, her message to others, especially the elderly, is simple. Do not answer unknown calls. Do not believe threats made over the phone. And most importantly, never stay silent.