KUCHING: Stay alert and be wary of helping strangers as they may have an ill-intention to cheat and scam, urged Sarawak Community Policing Association chairman Datuk Lau Pang Heng.
He said that in his press statement dated April 30 in response to a recent case of which a 70-year-old woman was cheated by three unknown women for a total sum of RM90,000 in Kuching.
“The 70-year-old woman, known as Hong, was getting into her car when three women approached her asking for help.
“One of them mentioned that her daughter-in-law has been bleeding and needs urgent Chinese medical treatment that costs quite a sum of money.
“She introduced the second woman as her daughter-in-law who pitifully asked Hong for help. They then placed a small well-packed bag in Hong’s car and asked that she drive them to her home,” he added.
Lau revealed that once they reached Hong’s home, they asked Hong to give up all her gold and cash in the house. She gave them gold and jewelleries worth RM40,000; cash amounting to RM8,000; 2,500 Thai Baht; 300 Singapore dollars, and $250.
“The three women passed one bag to Hong which housed one bag of sand and four bottles of water and requested her to open the bag in 48 hours.
“They also asked to see Hong’s bank account and wanted her to withdraw her money. Hong went out of her way to withdraw RM48,845 and passed it to one of the three women, thinking it was for a genuine cause,” he said.
Lau stressed that the public take necessary precautions and urged them to contact their nearest police station if they encountered any strangers approaching them for financial assistance.
Hong and her sons were accompanied by Lau to lodge a police report. It is understood that the police are investigating the case.
