Scratch-and-win syndicate still at it

14 January 2013

SWINDLERS: Scam artists are preying on the public at a pedestrian bridge linked to Johor Baru City Square

JOHOR BARU: MEMBERS of a scratch-and-win syndicate are preying on  people who use the pedestrian bridge linking Johor Baru City Square to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex here.

Their modus operandi is to approach passersby and show them a lucky draw coupon which they claim offers attractive prizes.

It has been reported that such scratch-and-win scams have resulted in losses totalling more than RM25 million, from 2006 to last December.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 cases have been reported and victims have lost between RM5,000 and RM108,000 each.

To deter the syndicate, the management of City Square has put up stickers and posters to warn the public not to fall prey to the scratch-and-win schemes.

Johor Baru City Square assistant manager of security Kelvin Lee said the posters and stickers served as reminders to the public, especially Singaporeans, against fall for such scams.

"We have taken all the necessary steps to warn the public.

"That is all we can do," he said.

"We do not have the right to stop the syndicate members from operating at the bridge which leads to JB Sentral.

"Our hope is that the stickers and posters, which are in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese are sufficient to make people more alert and prevent them from getting cheated."

Lee added that his security team could only take action against the syndicate members if violence was involved.

Johor Baru MCA youth chairman Kua Song Tuck, who highlighted the matter in the media recently, said the political party had set up a special task force in 2006 to monitor the scams.

"After the squad was formed, there was a decrease in the number of cases reported.

"However, in spite of the numerous awareness campaigns, the public continues to be susceptible to such scams," Kua said.

A 30-year-old victim, who only wanted to be known as Cindy, said she was approached by syndicate members who claimed that she had the chance win a new luxury car.

"However, to win this prize, they said I must first give them RM10,300.

"They took me to some automated-teller machines where I withdrew a total of RM6,950, using four of my credit cards.

"I only realised that I had been cheated when a representative of the company later offered me another prize in replacement of the car and even asked me for additional payment.

"I declined to accept the replacement item.

And, now, not only do I not have a new car, I also have to settle the credit card payments every month," she said.