Two lose RM50,000 in mega Internet jackpot scam

By NELSON BENJAMIN

JOHOR BARU: An assistant director with a government agency and an executive at a private company have lost more than RM50,000 after falling for an Internet scam luring victims with false mega jackpot wins worth millions of ringgit.

So, the next time you get an e-mail claiming you have won £500,000 (RM2.7mil) jackpot, just ignore or delete it.

A check with the British High Com­mission showed such scams had been happening for several years.

In an online statement, the high commission said several British as well as Malaysian citizens have re­­ported to them about the scam in­­volving false notification of lottery wins.

The recipients usually receive e-mail from a company in Britain called “International Lotto UK”, notifying them of their success and asking for a “processing free” totalling £5,625 (RM30,500).

The matter has been brought up to the authorities in Britain.

In the latest cases in Johor, an exe­cutive in her 30s, received an e-mail that she had won a £500,000 mega jackpot.

Sources said the woman was ask­ed to deposit more than RM40,000 in several instalments as processing fee for services that included insurance to transfer the mo­­­ney and diplomatic clearance tag.

“The victim only realised it was a scam after she lost contact with the person she was corresponding via e-mail,” sources said.

The sources added that by then, the woman had paid RM40,000 via telegraphic transfer.

The sources added that an assistant director, in his 40s, was duped of more than RM13,000 in a similar scam several weeks ago.

It is learnt the victim only realised he had been duped after syndicate mem­­bers kept asking for more mo­­ney as processing fees.

Subsequently, police arrested a 28 year-old woman in Kuala Lumpur.

The woman is believed to have opened a bank account using another person’s identity.

Police confirmed the arrest of the woman.

They are still tracking down the remaining gang members.