A 70-YEAR-OLD retired government official has fallen victim to a sophisticated lottery redemption scam, parting with jewellery worth approximately RM10,000 in an incident at Jalan Pandan Prima, Dataran Pandan Prima on Friday morning.
The victim, a former officer of the Department of Statistics Malaysia, was reportedly hypnotised before handing over her gold necklace and bracelet as collateral to the suspects, according to Assistant Commissioner Khairul Anuar Khalid, Chief of Police for Ampang Jaya District.
He said the victim was approached by three individuals – a married couple and another woman believed to be an Indonesian national – while at a wet market within a local supermarket.
“The suspects showed a lottery ticket alleged to be worth RM300,000 and asked for the victim’s assistance in redeeming it as they did not have identification,” Khairul Anuar said in a statement on Saturday.
“The victim was also promised a reward if she helped redeem the ticket.”
According to the police chief, one of the suspects, reportedly the Indonesian woman, held the victim in a manner that caused her to feel hypnotised before she consented to assist them.
The victim was then escorted by the three suspects in a grey Proton Waja to several locations around Ampang, including Ampang Point and behind a local restaurant, where one of the suspects claimed that the lottery ticket had been converted into a cheque.
The suspects allegedly demanded collateral of RM30,000 as a guarantee to ensure the victim would not flee. Lacking cash, she surrendered her gold necklace and bracelet instead.
The total estimated value of the jewellery was RM10,000.
Khairul Anuar said the victim was subsequently taken to a nearby bank to cash the supposed cheque. However, once she was left at the bank, the suspects fled and could not be located.
“The victim suspects she was hypnotised into handing over her jewellery and has since lodged a police report for further action,” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. - February 21, 2026