A 67-year-old woman was deceived into handing over her gold jewellery after being promised a RM2,000 monthly welfare assistance in an incident at a hospital in Teluk Intan on 29 June.
Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the victim was approached by a woman who introduced herself as a welfare officer while she was waiting for her medical appointment. The case reflects the increasing trend of impersonation scams targeting vulnerable individuals in public places such as hospitals and clinics.
The suspect allegedly offered the senior citizen monthly financial aid before instructing her to surrender her jewellery as part of the supposed application process. Trusting the offer, the victim handed over a gold necklace, a pair of gold earrings with a short chain, and three gold rings. Authorities have repeatedly warned that genuine welfare assistance does not require payment or the surrender of valuables.
The victim only realised she had been cheated when the suspect failed to return. She later lodged a police report after discovering the deception.
Following investigations, officers from the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Hilir Perak District Police Headquarters tracked down the suspects at an apartment in Semenyih, Selangor at about 4.10pm on Friday. Swift enforcement action has been credited with helping recover stolen assets in similar fraud cases.
Police arrested three suspects aged between 22 and 50, comprising two women and a man who are family members — a mother and her two children. Such familial involvement in organised scams has raised concerns among law enforcement agencies about the growing sophistication of fraud networks.
Authorities also seized clothing believed to have been worn during the scam and successfully recovered the victim’s jewellery, which had already been pawned at a shop in Teluk Intan. Quick recovery operations like this are seen as crucial in reducing financial losses for victims of deception.
All suspects have been remanded for four days until 7 July to assist investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. Police have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid accepting offers of financial assistance from unknown individuals requesting cash or valuables as conditions.
