PETALING JAYA: A former director-general under the Prime Minister’s Department is among the latest victims of an online scam after losing her savings.

Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said that the former director-general in charge of the department’s legal affairs division sought his help after losing RM75,000 in savings.

“She said her savings were withdrawn by the scammer in three transactions in a suspicious manner but the bank did not follow up on the matter,” according to Rais in a statement on Thursday (April 28).

He said the victim had proposed that a special parliamentary select committee be set up to consider measures to deal with online scammers, particularly those targeting the elderly.

Among the proposals, Rais said, were that banks retain the use of the physical bank book as some of the elderly are not well versed in the use of online digital banking.

“No money can be withdrawn without the use of the bank book and signature.

“This is a good recommendation and a preventive measure,” added Rais.

He also noted that loss of client’s financial data is another indication that online digital systems are not 100% free from fraud.

“The enforcement agencies must unite and rise up.

“Overcome scams as an official disaster faced by the rakyat,” he said, adding that it is insufficient to say that scammers are very advanced and rely on their “hypnotic voices” to dupe victims.

Rais also said amendments to the Penal Code and Security Offences (Special Measures) Act should be carried out if needed to safeguard depositors.