00:01A decades-old scam promising winning 4D numbers through supposed divine intervention
00:07continues to ensnare victims, with a 65-year-old retiree from Klang losing RM3,250
00:15after being lured by an online advertisement.
00:17The former Boilerman had responded to a Facebook advertisement offering free lucky 4D numbers,
00:23supposedly revealed through a monk with a spiritual connection to a popular deity.
00:29MCA Public Services and Complaints Department Head, Datuk Sri Michael Chong,
00:33said the victim, who wanted to be identified only as Ling,
00:37came across the advertisement on October 7th, which promoted a ritual promising wealth and good fortune.
00:43Yes, when I saw that Facebook, it was telling me,
00:50this is a free email.
00:53My teacher gave me a free email, free, I don't have money.
00:57And I was surprised, I was surprised,
01:02and I was surprised,
01:03and I was surprised,
01:04and I was surprised,
01:05and I was surprised,
01:05and I was fired.
01:07Chong said the person behind the advertisement claimed to be a monk at a temple on Pangkor Island, Perak,
01:13and told Ling that a deity had instructed him to place a RM20 bet on a 4D number.
01:20Ling was then asked to send a photograph of the betting slit via WhatsApp so that prayers could be performed.
01:26When the number failed to win, the self-proclaimed Sifu claimed the deity had revealed two more lucky numbers,
01:34but said he could not disclose them directly.
01:37Instead, he offered to place bets totalling RM300 on Ling's behalf.
01:42Later that night, the scammer claimed that one of the numbers had won RM225,000 in third prize in a
01:504D draw.
01:51Chong said Ling was instructed to keep the supposed windfall secret, even from his wife,
01:57before being referred to another individual, identified as Atan,
02:01who would supposedly handle the prize collection.
02:04Ling said Atan demanded RM300 in exchange for the winning number,
02:09but he could only afford RM250.
02:12After receiving the payment,
02:14Atan promised Ling an initial payout of RM50,000 that same day.
02:18However, when no money was credited to his account,
02:23Atan claimed that his boss's bank account had been frozen over suspected money laundering
02:27due to the large sum involved.
02:30Ling was then asked to pay RM3,000 to have the account unfrozen.
02:35Chong said Ling pawned his jewellery to raise the money and transferred it in two transactions.
02:41However, another individual claiming to be a banker subsequently demanded a further RM3,000.
02:48Unable to raise the additional amount, Ling refused to pay
02:52and was allegedly threatened with having thugs sent after him.
02:56He was also told that RM800,000 belonging to Atan's boss had been frozen in the bank account.
03:03After losing RM3,250, Ling realized he had been duped and sought help from the department.
03:20Chong said variations of the scam had been around for decades,
03:24yet victims continued to fall for promises of easy money.
03:27He said victims of similar scams had also been persuaded to borrow money from loan sharks
03:33or pawn their jewellery to redeem their supposed winnings,
03:37only to face repeated demands for more payments.
03:39I still want to believe, but one question I want to put to you all,
03:44if he knows the number, he buy and of course, what point he review to you?
03:51How can he do it?
03:51I don't think he would go back, so I want to say thank you.
03:51I mean to sum up for that but hey!
