Housewife in her 70s tricked by ritual scam in Sibu, police confirm RM317,000 losses

A woman in her 70s from Sibu lost roughly RM317,000 after falling victim to a scam operation that combined traditional healing and a ritual to ward off misfortune. Sibu police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad revealed the incident happened on July 19 in the Sibu Market area. Initially, an unidentified suspect approached the victim, asking for directions to a Chinese traditional medicine shop.

Shortly after, another woman with a similar accent offered to take them to a shop allegedly owned by her relative. The victim followed and was then taken in a vehicle. One of the suspects claimed she could read the victim's face, telling her that her child would be involved in a serious road accident that day. The woman was persuaded by these claims, and handed over cash and jewelry in exchange for a protection ritual.

The suspects are currently under investigation for cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The police advised the public to be wary of trusting strangers offering traditional treatments or rituals in exchange for valuables, and to avoid being swayed by threats intended to cause fear and anxiety.