Kiwis warned to steer clear of Malaysian travel scratchie scam
Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Kiwis are being warned about a Malaysian scam which is turning up in letter boxes, promising big prizes in return for a fee.
The scam, which includes professionally-printed glossy travel brochures and scratchies, are being distributed by Madly In Love Holiday and Get It On Holiday advertising their '13th Anniversary'. Competition watchdog the Commerce Commission said it is the latest iteration of an on-going scam.
The brochures, which appear to be from Malaysia, claim large prizes are up for grabs in the two scratchie cards enclosed. The scratchies then entice people to pay fees to release a prize, which consumers said they never receive, the commission said.
'One of the scratchie cards almost always reveals that the consumer has won a large amount of money, such as $190,000 US dollars (NZ$274,000),' it said.
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Consumers who try to claim their prizes have been told a large payment is required to be paid through Western Union or bank transfer to pay obligatory taxes, or fees, before the money can be released.
Upon payment, they are reassured the prize will be released to them. However, the commission was unaware of any consumers receiving their prize.
Competition general manager Antonia Horrocks said Malaysian travel scratchie cards were common scams in New Zealand, with new versions frequently appearing and being reported to authorities.
'If you receive unsolicited travel brochures and scratchies from Madly In Love Holiday and Get It On Holiday, we recommend you ignore this correspondence and do not send money.
'Scammers rely on some people believing the prize is genuine and then sending money, which is why the scam keeps continuing.'
In 2015, the commission warned of other Malaysian scratchie scams called Blazing Whale and November Rain.
The Department of Internal Affairs has registered around 150 different names used to promote the scam.