KUANTAN: A company director assumed that he had hit the jackpot when a gambling firm from abroad picked him as their RM2.3 million lucky draw winner.
The 61-year-old went on to pay RM174,939 hoping to secure the whooping lucky draw prize money before recently realising that he had instead fallen victim to a lucky draw scam.
The incident unfolded late last year when the victim from Kuantan received a call from an unknown caller who claimed to represent gambling companies based in Hong Kong and Macau.
Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department acting chief Deputy Superintendent Yap Huat Tian said the individual informed the victim that he had been chosen as the winner for a lucky draw offering HKD4,482,500.00 (RM2,385,000).
"Later, another individual claiming to be a bank officer from Hong Kong called the victim to inform that he will be required to make several payments including the Customs tax and legal fees as part of the procedures to receive the cash.
"The victim made 10 transactions amounting RM174,939 to five separate bank accounts but did not receive any money as promised. When he could no longer contact the company, the victim lodged a police report yesterday," he said in a statement today.
He said the case is investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping, and a fine if convicted.