Accra:A durian orchard owner has lost RM202,460 after being deceived by a fraudulent forecast number syndicate. The incident involved a 63-year-old woman who was lured by an advertisement on Facebook featuring an individual pretending to be a monk from a temple in southern Thailand. This person offered financial fortune-telling services.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the woman contacted the first suspect by phone and was convinced that she could alter her fortune by buying Magnum 4D lottery tickets with the chance to win a grand prize. She was then instructed to communicate with another person, described as an agent in Kelantan, for making payments. Subsequently, the victim was falsely informed that she had won a first-place lottery prize of RM1.2 million.

To secure the release of this fictitious prize money, the victim was asked to make several payments alleged to cover bank processing and cross-border money transfer taxes. Between December 23, 2025, and May 22, 2026, she conducted 12 transactions into six different bank accounts, using her savings and funds obtained from pawning her jewelry, totaling RM202,460.

The victim realized she had been scammed when she did not receive any prize money. The case is currently under investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The public is urged to be cautious of lottery win offers and forecast numbers encountered via social media and messaging platforms. It is advised not to make payments for purported taxes, fees, or bank charges without verification from authorities or relevant agencies.