Student duped by bogus cops after trying to sell 120 BB1M vouchers

SHAH ALAM: A 22-year-old college student, who thought he could get away with cheating the Government of RM30,000 worth of 1Malaysia Book Vouchers (BB1M), ended up being duped himself by a gang.

The polytechnic student had apparently collected 120 vouchers from his friends with the intention of exchanging them for cash with a broker, known only as Ah Chong.

He then set up a meeting with Ah Chong at an unspecified location in Shah Alam at about noon on April 2.

However, just as he was handing over the vouchers to Ah Chong, two men wearing T-shirts bearing the word “Police” suddenly appeared with handcuffs.

After telling him that he was committing an offence by misusing the vouchers, the “policemen” confiscated the vouchers and let him go.

It was only after he had gone home and thought about the incident that the student realised he had been duped. He then lodged a police report.

Yesterday, Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Shafien Mamat said a syndicate had been hoodwinking unsuspecting undergraduates from public institutions to surrender their BB1M vouchers in exchange for money.

He said seven men, aged between 17 and 40, were arrested on April 4 and remanded until today for investigation.

ACP Shafien said police were still hunting for Ah Chong, believed to be the mastermind.

“We believe this syndicate has been active since early this year. Its modus operandi is to offer cash for the vouchers, followed by a meeting at a location.

“Then, the bogus policemen would appear and seize the vouchers, making the victims believe their story,” he said, adding that three of those detained were security guards while the rest were jobless.

The case is being investigated under Sections 170 and 384 of the Penal Code for impersonating a policeman and extortion.

The Star had reported last month that some students were exchanging these vouchers, worth RM250 each, at unscrupulous bookstores, getting between RM190 and RM230 in hard cash.

These shops would then report the purchases to the Government before dumping the same books at secondhand bookstores at extremely cheap rates.