Beware of con artists now active in Kapit, OCPD warns public

KAPIT: Police here are warning the public to be wary of tricksters following two reported cheating cases here last week.

District police chief DSP Freddy Bian said one case involved a 59-year-old housewife who was approached by a woman carrying a child.

“The woman claimed she could help heal the leg pain experienced by the housewife. She then purportedly drove the victim to see a healer but, along the way said she could also help the victim apply for welfare assistance,” he said yesterday.

He said the victim was asked to remove her jewellery and was taken to a farm house where she was told to go inside to collect a form.

However, the trickster sped off as soon as the housewife stepped out of the car.

The second case, he added, involved a woman who was tricked over the telephone into transferring her savings in her bank account.

He said the elderly female victim was told by a stranger over the phone that her account had been used for illegal activities, and that she had to transfer her money into another account to avoid getting into trouble.

After doing as told, she realised something was amiss when she was unable to contact the caller again.

Freddy advised those who receive such calls not to panic, but instead contact the police or their bank to verify the matter.