MALACCA - A woman was duped into parting with more than RM100,000 (S$39,600) by a "shaman" from China after she was made to believe that her son would be involved in an accident.
The shaman was said to have demanded the money and valuables to help the 50-year-old woman cast away the bad omen which would befall her son.
The woman, from Malim here, handed over jewellery worth RM102,000 and RM5,000 cash to the shaman. In return, she only received a bag containing corn and two bottles of mineral water.
The woman claimed to have met the shaman about 7am on Wednesday.
State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Soh Hock Sing said the shaman had convinced the woman that her son was in danger and offered to help prevent it.
The woman was told to bring all the cash and jewellery she had in a black plastic bag to the Malim market area for a ritual .
"The woman did as told by the shaman. After the ritual, the woman was handed back the plastic bag and was told by the shaman that it could only be opened after a month.
"However, after the woman returned home, she became suspicious and opened the bag. Instead of her belongings, she found the corn and mineral water."
Soh said: "This is the eighth such case reported in the state this year and the losses are estimated to be about RM608,000. Seven cases occurred in the Melaka Tengah district while the other was in Jasin.
"The syndicate's victims were usually women above 50 who were found alone at markets, food courts, temples and banks."
The shaman was said to have demanded the money and valuables to help the 50-year-old woman cast away the bad omen which would befall her son.
The woman, from Malim here, handed over jewellery worth RM102,000 and RM5,000 cash to the shaman. In return, she only received a bag containing corn and two bottles of mineral water.
The woman claimed to have met the shaman about 7am on Wednesday.
State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Soh Hock Sing said the shaman had convinced the woman that her son was in danger and offered to help prevent it.
The woman was told to bring all the cash and jewellery she had in a black plastic bag to the Malim market area for a ritual .
"The woman did as told by the shaman. After the ritual, the woman was handed back the plastic bag and was told by the shaman that it could only be opened after a month.
"However, after the woman returned home, she became suspicious and opened the bag. Instead of her belongings, she found the corn and mineral water."
Soh said: "This is the eighth such case reported in the state this year and the losses are estimated to be about RM608,000. Seven cases occurred in the Melaka Tengah district while the other was in Jasin.
"The syndicate's victims were usually women above 50 who were found alone at markets, food courts, temples and banks."
