Malay Mail : 13 November 2006

HILDA (not her real name) never expected that she would become a victim of a scratch-and-win scam.

She knows how it works and how they would use their charms to persuade their victims with lucrative prizes and cash. However, despite being cautious, on Nov 9, she became their victim.

She lost RM1,000 worth of gold necklace to two supposedly ‘salesperson’ who came knocking on her door at 7.30pm.

Hilda, who is married with a child, was alone at home at the time. Her husband was at the motorcycle workshop, while her baby was with her mother-in-law.

When a man entered the compound of her house in Seri Kembangan, Hilda ignored him but when he returned minutes later with a woman, Hilda decided to check on it.

The woman introduced herself as the man’s colleague, claiming that both of them are working with an electrical company based in Japan.

Hilda was slightly sceptical, so she spoke to them behind the grille until the woman told her that she needed to use the toilet.

“She looked desperate so I let her in, but the man decided to follow suit as he then told me that he needed to use the toilet too,” said Hilda.

“After going to the toilet, both of them settled themselves in the living room and started to open files trying to sweet talk me.”

At the time, Hilda claimed that she was speechless and oblivious of the whole situation.

“I sat down and they started to show me some newspaper cuttings which were about their company and a testimonial of a woman who had won a car. They told me that their company is giving away prizes and cash to the public,” said Hilda.

Hilda was told by the woman that all she needed to do was to pick one of the coupon that was handed to her. They assured her that she will win something regardless of which coupon she chose.

After much persuasion, Hilda bowed down to the couple’s request. She took one and open it. She was stunned when it stated that she had won RM80,000.

“The idea of having lots of money clouded my conscience. I was in disbelief but also overjoyed that I could end up with lots of cash,” said Hilda, adding that she then contacted her husband to inform him about the cash she thought she had won.

But her husband was doubtful. He told her to forego the prize and ask the duo to leave the house but Hilda was overcome by the prize that she ignored her husband’s advice.

Hilda claimed that she was later told by the woman that all she needed to do was buy some electrical appliances worth thousands of ringgit to obtain the cash.

“She was so persuasive and told me that the money invested to buy the electrical items were nothing compared to the money that I would get later. So I gave in.”

Since Hilda did not have enough money, she handed over her jewellery as deposit. But that were still not enough. She was later told that it was not going to be a problem as the woman decided to become her share partner.

“She told me that I need not worry. She will settle the rest of the payment but I had to share the winnings with her.”

To Hilda everything happened so fast and almost dreamlike. She followed their instructions without any second thoughts, until she saw the woman and her partner leaving the house.

Only then she realised that she could have been conned. She ran after the woman and asked her for her personal details and invited her into the house again.

“I demanded for my jewellery but she told me that it was with her colleague who had gone to get their car which was parked nearby. I decided to wait.”

After a while, the woman told Hilda that she was thirsty and requested for a drink. As a good host, Hilda went to the kitchen to get the woman a glass of water only to return to an empty living room.

“She was gone ... with my gold necklace! All I could do at that time was to cry. I was upset with what happened and realised how foolish I had been all for money,” lamented Hilda.

Hilda and her husband lodged a report at the Subang Jaya police headquarters. She provided the police with the information she got from the woman.

Police are investigating the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.