Elderly Housewife Scammed of RM317,000 in Sibu Traditional Healing Ritual Fraud

SIBU, Aug 24 — An elderly housewife in her 70s lost RM317,000 after falling victim to a scam syndicate using traditional healing and a misfortune-warding ritual in the Sibu Market area.

Sibu Police Chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad stated that the victim lodged a police report yesterday regarding the incident, which took place on July 19.

The victim was initially approached by an unidentified woman speaking with a Chinese accent who requested directions to a traditional medicine shop, claiming she needed remedies for her mother-in-law. Shortly after, a second woman with a similar accent approached them and offered to drive both to a shop allegedly owned by her relative.

While inside the vehicle, one of the suspects claimed she could read the victim’s face and warned her that her child would be involved in a serious road accident that day.

The suspects then offered to perform a protection ritual to avert the calamity, instructing the victim to hand over cash and jewellery for the process. Overcome by fear and concern for her child’s safety, the victim complied with the demand, handing over valuables and money amounting to an estimated RM317,000.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

Abang Zainal Abidin advised the public to remain cautious and refrain from placing trust in strangers offering traditional treatments or rituals to ward off bad luck in exchange for cash or valuables. He further urged members of the public not to be influenced by fear-inducing claims designed to manipulate victims into handing over their savings.

-NMT