Tuesday April 16, 2013
Swipe-and-win scam included umrah and Camry prizes
KUANTAN: A Toyota Camry, tours and an umrah package are among the several attractive prizes used to lure consumers to take part in a swipe-and-win scam run by a syndicate here.
State Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism enforcement officer Abdul Kadir Al Jailani Sharriff said many people lost thousands of ringgit after being taken in by the sweet promises.
“The victims were given vouchers and asked to swipe these, which would then reveal pictures of the prizes they had won.
“However, in order to receive the prizes, the victims had to follow further instructions.
“Many of the victims, particularly the elderly, even made payments for the prizes. However, what they received in the end were not the prizes promised to them but cheap goods,” he said.
Abdul Kadir said there had been three cases in the past four months, involving between RM3,000 and RM20,000.
Once they trick the victims, the syndicate moves to another location to avoid enforcement, he added.
“We have received reports that the syndicate was operating in shopping complexes before moving to the wet market. They were recently, seen at the Pokok Buluh parking lot.
“We advise consumers not to believe such offers,” he said.
