KUALA LUMPUR: A woman lost RM18,300 to scammers after seeking the services of a "ritual master" to address relationship issues with her boyfriend.
Instead of resolving her relationship troubles, the woman was blackmailed by the scammers and ended up losing RM18,300, China Press reported.
The victim, unwilling to reveal her identity, turned to Shah Alam City Councillor Lim Shu Chzen to share her story with the media in a press conference to warn others about such scams.
The victim encountered the self-proclaimed "ritual master" on social media a little over a week ago, who claimed to offer rituals such as "severing mistresses" and "removing romantic rivals."
Hoping to ensure her boyfriend would remain faithful and change his ways, the victim contacted the "ritual master" to inquire about the cost of the ritual.
However, despite her repeated questions, the "ritual master" never disclosed a price. Instead, they requested personal details, including photos of the victim and her boyfriend, along with their names and birth dates.
The scammers claimed this information was necessary to evaluate their situation and determine the ritual's cost.
After providing the requested details, the victim was contacted by a different individual who began extorting her.
They threatened to publicly expose her intentions to perform such rituals on social media.
Fearing public embarrassment and the possibility of her boyfriend discovering her actions, the victim gave in to their demands.
The scammers continued exploiting the victim's fear, coercing her into making seven payments ranging from RM1,300 to RM4,000, amounting to a total of RM18,300.
According to Lim, the scammers falsely claimed they had already begun performing the ritual after receiving the couple's photos.
When the victim attempted to cancel the ritual, they accused her of causing the "ritual master" to suffer internal injuries, requiring hospitalisation.
The scammers demanded RM9,000 for "hospital fees" and even sent a video of the "ritual master" being admitted to a hospital.
Lim criticised the scammers' audacity and the extreme lengths they went to in deceiving their victims and urged the public to remain cautious, as a single moment of carelessness could lead to significant financial losses when targeted by such fraudulent schemes.