Lucky draw scam: Kindergarten teacher poorer by RM17,100

A slick e-mail lucky draw scam has caused a kingergarten teacher to part with RM17,100.

The 36-year-old teacher lodged a police report yesterday after finding out the lucky draw was an elaborate scam.

The E-mail in English sent by the syndicate behind the scam had used the logo of low-cost carrier AirAsia and told her that she had won USD130,000 (USD1=RM3.1055) in a lucky draw held in London in conjunction with last Christmas.

She was further told the money was ready to be transferred into her account through Telco Online Bank. In January, she received another e-mail from a certain [email protected] which stated that investigations by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) found the lucky draw was genuine.

"Following this, the complainant deposited various amounts totalling RM17,100 into an account given by the syndicate, which was to be the processing fee for transferring the money," Johor Baharu Utara police chief ACP Ruslan Hassan told a press conference here today.

He stressed that both e-mails were fake and advised the public not to be easily taken in by such scams. He added that police had set up a special task force to track down the culprits.