By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, Aug 24: An elderly couple suffered a loss of RM2,000 in valuables after being duped by a scam offering welfare aid here on Wednesday.
According to a police report, the couple were peddling at the Pasar Tamu at the city centre when approached by a woman and her two male friends offering welfare aid.
It is understood that the suspects managed to persuade the couple, of which the husband is a retired police officer, to take a ride with them to Lutong. The suspects earlier told the victims that they needed to get a form to apply for the welfare assistance.
In the car, the suspects told the wife to hand over all her jewelleries before the victims entered a building they were led to believe was the office to apply for the welfare aid.
The suspect had reasoned that applicants should look poor to convince the form distributor.
Unfortunately, when the couple reached the first floor of the building, they were told that there was no such office as described by the suspects.
As they rushed to confront the suspects who waited at the car, it was too late, as the trio had already fled the scene with their valuables. — DayakDaily
