PETALING JAYA: A decades-old scam promising winning 4D numbers through supposed divine intervention continues to claim victims, with a 65-year-old retiree from Klang losing RM3,250 in the latest case.
The former boilerman had responded to a Facebook advertisement offering lucky 4D numbers through a monk who claimed to have a spiritual connection with a popular deity.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said the victim, who wanted to be known only as Ling, responded to the advertisement on Oct 7 promoting a supposed ritual for wealth and good fortune.
He said the person behind the advertisement claimed to be a monk at a temple on Pangkor Island, Perak, and told Ling that the deity had instructed him to place a RM20 bet on a 4D number.
Ling was then asked to send a photograph of the betting slip through WhatsApp so that prayers could be performed.
When the number failed to win, the so-called sifu (master) claimed that the deity had revealed two more lucky numbers but said he could not disclose them directly.
Instead, he offered to place bets totalling RM300 on Ling's behalf.
Later that night, the scammer claimed that one of the numbers had won RM225,000 in third prize in a 4D draw.
Chong said Ling was told to keep the supposed windfall secret, even from his wife, before being referred to another individual identified as Ah Tan to "handle the prize collection".
Speaking at a press conference on Friday (Nov 6), Ling said Ah Tan demanded RM300 as payment for the winning number, but he could only afford RM250.
After making the payment, Ling was promised an initial payout of RM50,000 that same day.
However, when no money was credited to his account, Ah Tan claimed that his boss's bank account had been frozen over suspected money laundering because of the large amount involved.
Ling was then told to pay RM3,000 to have the account unfrozen.
Chong said Ling pawned his jewellery to raise the money and transferred it in two transactions.
Another person claiming to be a banker later demanded a further RM3,000.
Unable to raise the additional amount, Ling refused to pay and was allegedly threatened with having thugs sent after him.
He was also told that RM800,000 had been frozen in the bank account belonging to Ah Tan's "boss".
After losing RM3,250, Ling realised he had been duped and sought help from the department.
Chong said variations of the scam had been around for decades, yet victims continued to be drawn in by promises of easy money.
"If it is so effective and works, then why are the monks not using it themselves to make money and help others?" he said.
He said previous victims of similar scams had also been persuaded to borrow from loan sharks or pawn jewellery to "redeem their winnings", only to face repeated demands for more money.
