By William Isau
KAPIT, Aug 29: A 70-year-old woman suffered a loss of RM50,000 after she was cheated by individuals pretending to offer welfare assistance.
Kapit District Police Chief DSP Rohana Nanu said in the incident yesterday, the victim was approached by two unknown men who offered welfare assistance from the Social Welfare Department.
“Before she was given the purported assistance, she was asked to withdraw her money from a bank account and also to hand over her jewelry to the two suspects.
This supposedly would facilitate the approval of the aid application. She was promised that her money and jewelry would be returned after welfare assistance application was approved,” she said.
Rohana said that the woman realised that she had been deceived after she failed to locate the suspects.
Her total loss was RM50,000.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Rohana advised the public, especially the elderly, to always be careful.
“It is a reminder that you should not be easily fooled by offers of welfare assistance offered by unknown individuals and should make a formal application for welfare assistance at any nearby Social Welfare Department office,” she stressed. — DayakDaily
