Housewife in her 70s tricked by ritual scam in Sibu, police confirm RM317,000 losses

SIBU, Aug 24 — An elderly housewife lost RM317,000 after she was allegedly duped by a scam syndicate using a modus operandi involving traditional healing and a ritual to ward off misfortune here.

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 on July 19 in the Sibu Market area.

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 Chinese traditional medicine shop, allegedly 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 a protection ritual and asked the victim to hand over cash and jewellery for the purpose.

He said the victim, who was worried about her child’s safety, believed the claims and handed over the cash and jewellery, resulting in total 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 easily trust strangers offering traditional treatments or rituals to ward off misfortune in exchange for cash or jewellery.

The public was also urged not to be easily influenced by claims or threats deliberately intended to cause fear and anxiety, prompting them to hand over money or valuables. — Bernama