Scratch-and-win scam: Two women held
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Two women have been arrested for their involvement in a scratch-and-win syndicate which has swindled RM390,625 from their victims so far.
Kuala Lumpur Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism Ministry director Abu Samah Shabudin said the women, aged 19 and 23, were nabbed while distributing scratch-and-win cards to the public at the Tasik Selatan Integrated Terminal yesterday.
“Further investigation found that it was not the first time the duo had been arrested by our enforcement officers,” he told a press conference here today.
He said the syndicate’s modus operandi was to trick their victims into scratching a card and believing that they had won a big prize such as a car or a travel package.
“However, in order to claim the prize, the victims were required to purchase certain items which would cost more than the price of the prize such as a massage chair and a mattress worth over RM20,000,” he said.
Abu Samah said the terminal was among the popular locations targeted by the syndicate to get new victims besides Berjaya Times Square, Bukit Bintang Plaza and near commercial banks.
“Between January and June this year, a total of 62 cases involving the scratch-and-win syndicate and losses of RM390,625 were recorded. The highest loss suffered by a victim was RM27,000, while the lowest was RM1,500,” he said.
Abu Samah reminded the public to be wary of this syndicate and not to fall victim to its scam. — Bernama
