Malaysia breaks up scam ‘shaman’ syndicate from China who preyed on older women

Police said the syndicate approached women over the age of 60 to offer medicine or paid-for prayers that could purportedly cure chronic illnesses

Five suspects – four women and a man aged 40 to 50 – were arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport last week while attempting to flee to China

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Fisol Salleh, deputy police chief of Penang state, draws attention to the cash and other items that were confiscated from the scam syndicate’s members. Photo: Facebook/PolisPulauPinang

Published: 3:33pm, 2 May 2023Updated: 8:57pm, 3 May 2023

Police in Malaysia have broken up a scam syndicate from China who preyed on older women by duping them into buying medicine and paying for prayers in return for “curing” their illnesses.

The bogus “bomoh” (shaman) scam syndicate was made up of foreign nationals, police said on Tuesday.

Five suspects – four women and a man, all aged 40 to 50 – who are accused of being part of the syndicate were arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday last week while trying to escape to China.

Fisol Salleh points to photos of the suspects who were arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport last week. Photo: Facebook/PolisPulauPinang

“We also seized nine mobile phones, five bags, various types of jewellery, 11 watches of various brands, and a total of 94,300 yuan (US$13,600),” Deputy Commissioner Fisol Salleh, deputy police chief of Penang state, told a press conference at state police headquarters on Tuesday.

Fisol said the scam syndicate’s modus operandi was to go to public markets early in the morning and approach women over the age of 60.

He said the syndicate would offer medicine that could purportedly cure chronic illnesses.

“The members of the syndicate also gave their phone numbers to the victims to offer follow-up treatment,” he said.