KUANTAN: A nurse found herself in trouble, even taking out a personal loan, after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate earlier this year.

The 39-year-old victim from Kuantan lost RM144,000 after being deceived by the syndicate, which threatened her with 'arrest' for alleged involvement in money laundering.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the victim's nightmare began when she received a phone call from an individual impersonating a police officer on Jan 18 this year.

"The bogus officer said her bank account was linked to money laundering activities. When she denied the claim, the suspect ordered the victim to lodge a police report for investigation purposes.

"The officer told the victim it was best for her to admit her wrongdoings as she could face arrest for the offence. The victim agreed for the police to probe her bank accounts and transferred all her savings into three separate bank accounts provided by the suspect," he said in a statement today.

Yahaya said the 'police officer' did not only demand the victim to transfer her savings but coaxed her to secure a bank loan to pay them resulting in losses totalling RM144,000.