Scratch and win operators are slick and cunning

There were fifteen cases of of ‘Scratch & Win’ scam reported in the state of Johor since January to March this year, out which 12 were investigated and resolved by the state Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism office.

The balance cases cannot be investigated as the complainants are all working in Singapore and have not come forward to heave their statement recorded, said the Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism Deputy Minister, Tan Lian Hoe.

She said that the ‘Scratch & Win’ scam is not easy to eliminate as these syndicates are sleek in their modus operandi as whenever our disguised enforcement officers are around, they syndicate members will not carry out their operations.

Despite of the Ministry’s effort to publicise such illegal scams regularly and  yet there are people who are still attracted to the scam, she was speaking in a Price Reduction Campaign here yesterday.

She added that so far there are some three hundred and seventy filed cases been recorded and Johor is the third highest in term cases filed under the Consumer Protection Act after Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Out of the three hundred and seventytwo hundred and one cases are related to products issue and one hundred and sixty nine are services related including fifty-six cases involving beauty care centres.

Deputy Minister Tan added that to date one hundred and ninety-seven cases were resolved either the cases were withdrawn through negotiation between the disputed parties or cases were rejected which fall beyond the Ministry’s jurisdiction or because of unreasonable claim.