Malaysia

Miri woman loses RM30,000 to ‘mediums’ after cleansing ritual for son

Scammers scare elderly victim into believing her child was cursed

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 25 Jun 2023 5:15PM

Miri woman loses RM30,000 to ‘mediums’ after cleansing ritual for son

by Stephen Then

MIRI – Three women who police believe are from China and claimed to be mediums have cheated an 80-year-old woman here by frightening her into believing her son was cursed with misfortune.

Sarawak police chief Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri today said the senior citizen was cheated out of RM30,000 in cash.

“The case happened on June 19 when the victim was approached by the three foreign women at a bus stop in Miri.

“The women are believed to be China nationals.

“They struck a conversation with her and told the victim that they knew that her son had been cursed by bad fortune and will die soon.

“They coaxed her into believing that she needed to get her son cleansed and that they are mediums who can help her get rid of the bad fortune,” Azman said in a press statement today.

The woman was then coaxed into withdrawing RM30,000 to hand over to them. A “cleansing ritual” with some water then followed, after which the three suspects handed the woman a package wrapped in newspaper.

“They (the three suspects) said the package contained her RM30,000 cash. They told her to go home but not to open the package for the next four days.

“On June 23, the woman and her son opened the package and found salt inside,” Azman said.

Miri police are looking for the suspects, he added.

Azman reminded the public to report to the nearest police station if they are contacted or pressured by strangers offering services and demanding payment.

Meanwhile in Sibu, district police chief Zulkipli Suhaili said a woman in her 30s was cheated out of over RM48,000 after responding to a job vacancy advertised on Facebook.

The job promised good pay as commission but not before the victim had to transfer money to an account.

The Sibu woman lodged a police report yesterday after transferring the total sum in batches and realising she had been scammed. – The Vibes, June 25, 2023

Related News

Malaysia / 1mth

E-hailing driver helps save 71-year-old from losing another RM10k in suspected love scam

Malaysia / 4mth

Southeast Asia’s booming scam industry eyes Malaysia

Malaysia / 5mth

Miri man loses over RM257k in online investment scam

Malaysia / 6mth

Retired teacher loses over RM160,000 in phone scam

Health / 6mth

Miri Hospital performs first awake brain surgery to remove tumour

Malaysia / 7mth

Doctor loses RM3.8m to IPO fraud syndicate

Spotlight

Malaysia

Nhaveen murder trial: Accused admits taunting victim but denies fatal assault

Malaysia

MCMC probes alleged AI sexual abuse targeting Kedah pupils, teachers

Malaysia

Anwar checks final preparations for Budget 2027

Malaysia

Sarawak election could be called within weeks of Budget 2027

Malaysia

Anwar contacts Prabowo over ‘alarming’ transboundary haze

Malaysia

King calls for schools in haze-hit areas to close

Malaysia

Parents worry over children’s exposure as haze worsens

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

You may be interested

Malaysia

Budget 2027: Penang looks forward to good news on PTFC

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Twelve politicians involved in 19 cases granted DNAA since 2010

Malaysia

King calls for schools in haze-hit areas to close

Malaysia

Sarawak election could be called within weeks of Budget 2027

Malaysia

Woman’s identity used by scammer; Victims turn up at her house

Malaysia

Attorney General directs PDRM to record Mohd Shuhaily's statement

Malaysia

38 areas record unhealthy air quality as Seremban tops haze readings

Malaysia

Corruption among public officials remains a concern – PSD DG