KUCHING, April 30: Sarawak Community Policing Association chairman Datuk Lau Pang Heng reminds the public to be extra cautious of any communication requesting personal or financial information.
“Scammers are moving around to target people of all walks of life and not only the gullible. So please do not reveal (personal or financial information) to anyone, especially financial information like bank account and please stay alert and not be hasty in helping strangers who may have ill intentions to cheat and scam,” he said in a press statement today.
“When encountering strangers approaching for financial assistance, go to the nearest police station to lodge a report immediately. And be mindful and take precautions not to be an easy target of criminals,” he advised.
Earlier today, Lau accompanied a 70-year-old woman who fell victim to a scam and was cheated off RM90,000 to lodge a police report.
This morning at 8.30am, the lady, known only as Madam Hong, was getting into her car when she approached by three women asking for help.
One of the women mentioned that her daughter-in-law had been bleeding and needed urgent Chinese medical treatment that required a large sum of money. She then introduced her supposed daughter-in-law who pitifully asked Hong for help.
The three women then accompanied Hong to her car and placed a small bag in her car. The three women instructed Hong to go to her home.
On reaching Hong’s home at Kenyalang Park, they asked Hong to pass them all the gold and cash kept in the house.
Hong handed over to them gold and jewellery worth RM40,000, RM8,000 cash, 2,500 Thai Baht, SGD300 and USD250.
The three women then passed a bag to Hong which contained a bag of sand and four bottles of water and requested Hong to open the bag in 48 hours.
Upon seeing the total in Hong’s savings account, the scammers then requested that Hong to give the money to them.
Intending to help, Hong who thought their plight was genuine went to a bank at Jalan Song Thian Cheok to withdraw RM48,845 and gave the monry to one of the three women around 9.30am.
The scammers then instructed Hong to return home.
“The police is investigating this case. But let’s work together with the police to build a safer community,” Lau said. — DayakDaily
