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MANILA, Philippines – Malaysian police arrested a Filipino woman in Kuala Lumpur for alleged involvement in a so-called “black money” scam.
The Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that the unnamed woman was arrested along with an African man Tuesday, April 15, which led police to uncover a “black money” syndicate. Philippine officials have yet to comment on the report.
Quoting Kuala Lumpur Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief ACP Izany Abdul Ghany, the report said police first arrested the 34-year-old African at a hotel in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur. A Malaysian woman who became suspicious over his offer of investment opportunities tipped off the police.
The African’s arrest led to the arrest of the 46-year-old Filipina at an apartment in Jalan Imbi road. Police recovered from her apartment 5 bundles of US $100 and 3 bundles of 50 Malaysian ringgit (about US$15.4), suspected to be fake.
Police also seized 3 bundles of white paper the size of the 50 Malaysian ringgit bills and US$1 dollar notes.
In the raid of the African’s hotel, police seized three 50 Malaysian ringgit notes and equipment to “clean” money believed to have been used in the scam, Izany said.
Malaysian police seized a total of 3.2 million Malaysian ringgit (nearly $1 million) in fake currencies from the two suspects.
Malaysian news website Malay Mail Online said black money syndicates are usually run by Nigerians where pieces of paper claimed to be US dollars are “blackened” by a chemical that can only be washed off with a special liquid.
The syndicates will take a real US dollar, blacken it and then wash it with the liquid to convince buyers about their offer.
The Star reported that suspects tell their victims the bank notes were dyed black to avoid Customs detection, and that the victim should purchase the chemical to wash off the dye to unveil the “genuine” US dollars. They promise rich returns to dupe victims.
“The supposed origin of the riches varied with each new victim. The most popular version is that the money is the lost fortunes of former Nigerian dictator General Abacha which need to be transported out of Nigeria without the Customs knowing it,” The Star said in a 2009 report.
The “black money” scam has been ongoing in Malaysia for years but most con artists are reportedly deported to their home countries due to lack of evidence. –Rappler.com
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