Three Malaysians charged over "scratch and win" scam
By Claire Huang | Posted: 20 June 2012 1909 hrs
SINGAPORE: Three Malaysians have been charged in court with conspiring to cheat two elderly women of S$10,000 to S$12,100 in a "scratch and win" scam.
Tay Chee Boon and Lee Hao Yi, both aged 23, and Gan Ee Sing, 47, are accused of conspiring with an unknown fourth person to cheat the women on Monday.
62-year-old Ching Chuan Tin and 73-year-old Phua Meng Kim were shopping in a Johor Bahru mall when they were asked to participate in the "scratch and win" game.
They were told they won a car and were brought to the men's office.
The victims were then told they had to pay for the car's Goods and Services Tax of S$10,000 to S$12,100 before they could claim their prize.
They agreed and the trio drove them back to a Tampines flat belonging to one of the victims for Mdm Ching to issue a cheque.
An alert relative stopped the payment in the nick of time and called the police who arrested the trio on the same day.
Police say between January and May this year, there have been 46 cases reported in which a total of about S$175,000 were lost to similar scams.
If convicted, each man faces up to 10 years' jail and is liable to be fined.
- CNA/wm
