SIBU, Aug 24 — An elderly housewife lost RM317,000 after she was allegedly duped by a scam syndicate using traditional healing and a ritual purportedly to ward off misfortune.
Sibu police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the local woman, in her 70s, lodged a police report yesterday over the incident, which occurred in the Sibu Market area on July 19.
He said the victim was initially approached by an unidentified woman, believed to be a Chinese national based on her accent, who asked for directions to a traditional Chinese medicine shop, purportedly to obtain medicine for her mother-in-law.
“Shortly afterwards, another woman with a similar accent approached the victim and offered to take them to a shop allegedly owned by her relative.
“The victim was then taken in a vehicle before one of the suspects claimed she could read her face and told her that her child would be involved in a serious road accident that day,” he said in a statement.
Abang Zainal Abidin said the suspects then offered to perform a protection ritual and asked the victim to hand over cash and jewellery for the purpose.
He said the victim, fearing for her child’s safety, believed their claims and handed over the cash and jewellery, resulting in losses estimated at RM317,000.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Abang Zainal Abidin advised the public not to readily trust strangers offering traditional treatments or rituals to ward off misfortune in exchange for cash or jewellery.
He also urged the public not to be swayed by claims or threats deliberately designed to cause fear and anxiety and pressure them into handing over money or valuables.
