KUANTAN: A housewife can probably consider herself lucky after she was alerted by her children from being duped by a parcel scam syndicate.
The 56-year-old woman had already paid RM1,650 to the syndicate but as there was a short fall of the money demanded she contacted her children to borrow money. This was when her children told her that she had been tricked by the syndicate.
In the 4.30pm incident on Saturday, the victim recalled being elated when informed that she would be receiving gifts from a Facebook friend "Rowland Mohamed" who was living abroad.
Pahang Commercial Criminal Investigation Department Chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof according to the victim the gifts were sent as a friendship gesture included foreign currency, jewellery and a handphone.
"Several hours later, the victim received a call from a woman who claimed to be from the Customs Department informing her that the parcel has being held back. She was required to pay RM2,000 or face a fine.
"The victim informed that she could only pay RM1,650 and later deposited the cash. It was only when the victim contacted her children to borrow money and informed them about the gifts, she was told that she had fallen prey to a parcel scam syndicate," he said, adding she later lodged a police report at the district police station.
Wazir said the housewife's move to inform her family members about the syndicate had prevented her from suffering further losses.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years, whipping, and fine, if convicted.
