KAPIT: A senior citizen lost RM50,000 after being tricked by two individuals into believing that she was offered welfare assistance from the Social Welfare Department.
According to Kapit District Police Chief DSP Rohana Nanu, in the incident that occurred on Wednesday (August 28), the 70-year-old victim was approached by two unknown men.
“Before she was given the purported assistance, she was asked to withdraw her money from a bank account and also to hand over her jewellery to the two suspects.
“This was to facilitate the approval of the aid application. She was promised that her money and jewellery would be returned after the welfare assistance application was approved,” she said in a statement today (August 29).
Rohana said that the woman realised she had been deceived after she failed to locate the suspects.
“The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating,” she said.
Rohana advised the public, especially the elderly, to always be careful.
“It is a reminder that you should not be easily fooled by offers of welfare assistance from unknown individuals and should make a formal application for welfare assistance at any nearby Social Welfare Department office,” she stressed.
