USD360 million lottery ‘winner’ ends up RM807,632 poorer

KUCHING: A man who thought he had won USD360 million in lottery winnings ended up losing RM807,623 in a scam.

Kuching police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah in a statement yesterday said the victim, who lodged a police report on Thursday, was told that he had won a lottery amounting to USD360 million from ‘www. poolmond.com’ and was instructed to make several payments for the winnings to be disbursed into a bank account in the United Kingdom.

“The victim then made 22 transfers to a local bank account totalling RM392,300 and another 18 transfers to an international bank totalling RM415,323.15 for the ‘processing fees’ of the prize money.

“He only realised that he had been cheated after the winnings were never transferred into a bank account which he had opened earlier at Corniche Bank in the United Kingdom,” said Ahsmon.

It was also informed that the victim had initially befriended a ‘Dr Benjamin’ whom he met through an advertisement.

It was also ‘Dr Benjamin’ who gave the victim the betting number and told him to make the bet at www.poolmond.com, added Ahsmon.

He advised the public to be extra vigilant and not to be easily taken in by offers that are too good to be true, especially if it eventually involves monetary transactions.

The case, said Ahsmon, is being investigated under Section 402 of the Penal Code for cheating.

For fraud protection, check http://ccid.rmp.gov. my/ semakmule or call the National Scam Response Centre at 997 if you are a victim of a cyberscam.