How the scam works
1
THE
PROMISE
The victim learns about a box of "banknotes" stained black.
These "notes" are usually just black construction paper. The victim
is told that they are dyed black so they can be smuggled past
customs.
2
THE
MEETING
The con artist tells the victim that the black substance can
only be removed with a "special liquid". In reality, the black
substance is iodine and the "special liquid" is vitamin C pills
dissolved in water.
3
THE
TRICK
The con artist uses the liquid to remove the black stain, but,
through sleight of hand, substitutes the paper with a real
banknote. The victim is fooled and is made to pay for the fake
notes and the liquid.
4
THE
TRUTH
The box of money would not be sent and the con artist gives more
reasons justifying the victim paying him or her more "fees".
Source: Scambaiting's World website
S'porean
nabbed in
black
money
scam bust
KL ring dupes victims to pay for tainted
banknotes which can be washed clean with 'special
liquid'
BUSTED:
Some of the fake banknotes seized from the
syndicate. PHOTO: HARIAN METRO
Report by WONG CONG XU
A 54-year-old Singaporean was among three men arrested
when Malaysian police busted a "black money" syndicate in Kuala
Lumpur on Dec 26.
The scam is commonly associated with syndicates from Africa,
said Malaysian police.
Promising rich returns, these groups dupe their
victims into paying for boxes of "black money" which can be washed
clean with a "special liquid". (See report above.)
Claiming the money to be cash smuggled out of a
country, the syndicates then ship fake currency and sometimes,
black pieces of paper.
The KL syndicate, which comprised two chinese
nationals and the Singaporean, operated out of a condominium unit
in a posh corner of Jalan Ampang.
The three men were caught when the police received
a tip-off about a fight between the Singaporean and one of the
Chinese nationals.
In the unit, officers found eight safe boxes and
several travel bags containing RM1.7 million (S$656,000) in fake
US$100 and RM100 notes.
Police told reporters that several glass bottles
that contained a "special liquid" that could supposedly wash off
the black coating on each note were also found.
The apartment had been occupied by the suspects
since 2012 and was used to store counterfeit notes.
TOURIST VISAS
The three suspects had entered Malaysia on tourist visas on
multiple occasions, and are suspected to have been involved in
illegal activities since 2011.
Chef Assistant Commissioner Izany Abdul Ghani of
the Commercial Crime Investigation Department said this was the
first case which involved foreign nationals from China and
Singapore.
He told a press conference on Thursday: "Usually,
the suspects in such cases are Africans. We are investigating the
possibility of other foreigners involved."
He added it is possible that the suspects had been
operating in Klang Valley with a group of Africans since early last
year.
News, The New Paper, Saturday, January 4 2014, Pg 13
