IPOH: Five people have been arrested after a 62-year-old cleaner in Taiping reported losing about RM59,000 worth of valuables in a scam.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the victim received a phone call on June 14 informing her that she had won a hamper in a lucky draw and was asked to collect it at the Taiping bus station.
"Upon arriving there, she was asked by two women and a man to get into their vehicle.
"She was given a hamper and asked to spin a virtual lucky draw wheel on a tablet, where she was told she had won a 100g gold bar," Comm Alwi told a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters here on Monday (June 22).
"The victim was asked to hand over her gold chain if she wanted to participate in another lucky draw.
"She handed over more jewellery, including necklaces, earrings and other valuables for more opportunities.
"The suspects promised to return with the prizes, but never did," he said.
Comm Alwi said the woman realised she had been cheated after waiting for a long time.
"The gold bars she received were also found to be fake," he said, adding that police managed to track the suspects to an apartment in Melaka at 5.30am on Friday (June 19).
"We arrested three men and a woman before tracking down and detaining another female suspect at a house in Telok Panglima Garang, Selangor.
"All five suspects, aged between 22 and 40, have been under a four-day remand since June 20.
"We also seized nine mobile phones, nine SIM cards, a tablet, 16 lucky draw vouchers, clothing and shoes allegedly used by the suspects while deceiving victims, as well as two sling bags, all worth about RM10,000," he added.
Comm Alwi said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He added that the same syndicate had also cheated another cleaner, also aged 62, on Oct 23 last year.
"The victim lost about RM18,600 in a scratch-and-win scam that promised gold bars and cash prizes.
"The victim was approached by two men and a woman at a supermarket here and was brought into a vehicle, where she was asked to spin a lucky draw wheel to win a 150g gold bar," he said.
"To claim the prize, she was asked to hand over her earrings, necklace and ring for weighing purposes.
"She was also asked to give her bank card and PIN on the pretext that she would receive a cash prize," he added.
Comm Alwi advised the people not to easily trust lucky draws or prize offers that require them to surrender jewellery or cash.
"Anyone with information on suspected scams should contact the nearest police station," he said.
