[crumoursegemo]

Friday October 15, 2010

Cops arrest ‘evil spirit’ scammers

KUALA LUMPUR: Four China nationals, who preyed on elderly women before cheating them of money and valuables in a scam have been arrested by police. The suspects, in their 40s, were caught at a hotel following a tip-off. “Their modus operandi is to strike fear in the victims by claiming that they were being trailed by a ghost,’’ sources say. They would then introduce the victims to a “powerful’’ sifu (religious master) to get rid of the spirit. In order to chase away the spirit, they have to hand over cash and valuables which are placed inside a plastic bag as offerings, which will later be swapped with water bottles and apples. Last week, someone recognised one of them and contacted MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong.