Elderly Targeted: Police Bust 'Scratch and Win' Scam Syndicate in Malaysia

Perak police have successfully dismantled a "scratch and win" scam syndicate that preyed on senior citizens, arresting five suspects in Melaka and Selangor last Friday. The operation followed police reports filed by two victims, both 62-year-old cleaners, who collectively lost RM77,600.

According to Perak Police Chief Datuk Mohd. Alwi Zainal Abidin, the arrests were made based on information received. The five suspects, including two women aged between 22 and 40, were apprehended in separate raids. During the operation, police seized several items, including nine mobile phones with SIM cards, one tablet, and 16 lucky draw vouchers, estimated to be worth RM10,000.

Mohd. Alwi stated that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, whipping, and a fine upon conviction. The suspects have been remanded for four days, from June 20th to 23rd, to assist with the investigation.

In one of the incidents, which occurred on October 3, 2025, at an Ipoh supermarket, a victim was approached by two men and a woman. They informed her she could win a prize through a lucky draw. She was then taken to a vehicle and asked to spin a wheel, subsequently winning a 150-gram gold bar. To claim the prize, she was asked to hand over her gold earrings, necklace, and ring for weighing. She was also instructed to provide her PIN number and ATM card details, allegedly to receive a cash prize. The suspects then disappeared, and the victim discovered that RM600 had been withdrawn from her bank account, bringing her total loss to approximately RM18,600.

In a separate case, a victim received a call on June 14th from a suspect claiming she had won a hamper in a lucky draw. Instructed to go to the Taiping Bus Station to collect the prize, she was shown a tablet and asked to spin a lucky draw wheel. Unbeknownst to her, she had "won" a 100-gram gold bar, which was fake. To obtain this supposed prize, she was asked to surrender her jewelry, resulting in a loss of about RM59,000.