A 51-year-old single mother from Terengganu has become the victim of a shocking scam after being manipulated by a self-proclaimed “bomoh” (witch doctor) who claimed she was cursed and needed spiritual cleansing. Not only did she lose more than RM103,000 (around S$29,000) in cash and jewellery, she was also tricked into sending intimate videos of herself.
Lured Through Dating App and Telegram
According to police in Rompin, the victim came across the scammer on a dating app called Omi on 1 September, before continuing their conversations through Telegram. The man claimed she had been “hexed” and convinced her that only he could remove the curse through rituals.
He instructed her to hold an egg and salt in her room while following his directions. The woman later reported that she felt hypnotised during the process, to the point that she willingly showed her gold jewellery collection to the scammer via video.
On 3 September, under his orders, she sold four of her gold bangles at a pawnshop in Kemaman, cashing out RM71,350. She was then told to hand over RM71,000 in cash and a heavy gold necklace, placing them at a spot behind a tree in Felcra Bukit Seroja, Rompin. The scammer assured her that the valuables would “disappear temporarily” and be returned to her within two weeks after the rituals were completed.
Forced to Send Intimate Videos
The deception took a disturbing turn when the scammer demanded further proof of her “cleansing”. He told her to provide a man’s bodily fluids and to record sexual acts on video. On 4 September, at around 5.30am, the victim followed his instructions and sent him explicit videos and nude photos of herself.
When she returned to the hiding spot on 5 September to retrieve her money and jewellery, nothing was there. It was only then that she realised she had been scammed and immediately lodged a police report at the Rompin station.
Police: Beware of Ritual and Online Scams
Rompin district police chief Sharif Zain confirmed the case, noting that the woman, a seamstress and mother of three, had handed over all her life savings. He urged the public not to fall for individuals claiming to have supernatural powers, especially those demanding valuables or explicit material as part of so-called rituals.
Investigations are ongoing under Malaysia’s penal code for cheating and exploitation. Authorities are also warning that such scams are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals, often through dating apps and social media platforms.
This case serves as a reminder for Singaporeans and Malaysians alike to remain vigilant against “bomoh” scams, love scams, and cyber blackmail, which have been on the rise across the region.