�I think all these items are worth not more than RM30,000,� he said, adding that her ordeal started in April and has taken a toll on her health.�

Gan said he advised the woman�s family to lodge a report with the state domestic trade and consumer affairs department and also with the police.�

National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) director Darshan Singh, when contacted in Kuala Lumpur, said:�

�Raids and seizures alone are not enough as every day we get between three to four complaints in the Klang Valley alone. �

�What about people from other parts of the country or even those who choose not to report?��

He said scams like this were now tarnishing the country�s image. �

�The Government should also use the emergency ordinance and detain the leaders or bosses behind these powerful syndicates,� he said, adding that a memorandum on how to battle scratch-and-win scams was submitted to the ministry last month.�

He said last year, out of the 18,345 complaints received by NCCC, 1,499 were on direct sales companies mainly involved in scratch-and-win competitions.�

�We hope the public will continue to send us as many complaints as possible, so we can forward them to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry for action.�

Those with information can contact the NCCC at 03-7877-9000 / 03-7874-8096 or file a complaint via its website www.nccc.org.my. �