Hi this happened to my friend's friend. And I have met some who had faced it one way or another. So please do take heed. It's to share with our folks at home..

Dear frenz,

This is true and actually happened to my family today (7 Oct 08).
Please pass this email around, to pple whom you think might find it
useful. And take care...

This morning, my mum received a call via the home phone, and when she
answered, a man's loud voice boomed hello, and followed by loud cries
of help and screams, as if in real torturing pain, screaming, "Mummy,
mummy, very painful, i'm in pain".

My mum started asking who's that, who are you. And its ONLY WHEN she
blurted out my youngest sis name, that the man started shouting
loudly to my mum. He told my mum that they have my youngest sis held
for ransom, and demanded 100K.

He instructed my mum not to put the home phone handset down, or call
anyone, especially the police for help. He asked my mum for her
mobile no. Once he got hold of her mobile no, he called her on the
mobile and TOLD MY MUM NOT TO PUT THE HOME PHONE DOWN, and asked her
to leave the house immediately and go to Yishun Post Office by cab.

As my mum doesn't have enough cash to take the cab, she took the
train instead. All these while, the man kept her on the mobile, JUST
TO PREVENT HER FROM USING THE LINE TO MAKE ANY PHONE CALLS OUT, and
even restrict her to talk. While on the train from Gombak stn, my mum
started scribbling notes and seek commuters' help. By God's Grace,
she managed to seek a kind lady commuter and started communicating by
notes.

First, she asked the lady to call me, as she can't remember my sis's
phone number by heart. Then after confirming that my youngest sister
is alright, me and my sis decided to call the police. Then, the con-
man started to change the venue to AMK Post Office. The kind commuter
lady even offered to accompany my mum to AMK.

My sis and I managed to get Jurong Police Post's police officer to
call us back. We told the officers they have to contact the kind
lady, as she is the direct link to my mum now.

They finally reached AMK station, the con-man told her to seek
direction to the Post Office and that's when the police officer
called the kind lady on her mobile. And guess what they told her to
do? They want my mum to stop communicating to the con-man, shut off
her phone, and go back home.

The kind lady has a shock. And I didn't even get any call back from
the officer. Its only when the kind lady called me back that I knew
what had happened. And despite having cut off the conversation, the
con-man still call back repeatedly, for about 6 or 7 times, until my
mum's phone batt went dead. The kind lady proceeded to go to work at
Bishan. And my mum came to my office.

Later, in the late afternoon, we proceed to the nearest police post
to want to lodge a police report. Guess again what we are asked and
told? "Mdm, did you transfer any money to them yet? No, was our
reply. "Then it's not necessary to lodge a report at all." It only
after a phone call from my husband to a higher ranking officer, that
they are willingly to file a report.

My intention of writing this report is not to comment on how this
case was handled, but more of the modus operandi that the con-man are
using. I WILL never think that we will be selected as victims, until
today. And I really hope you can pass this email around, so that more
pple will not take for granted that it will NEVER HAPPEN TO THEM TOO.

My mum said the con-man has a Malaysia Mandarin accent. Do take note.

Here are some tips that I think will help in times like this:

- Keep calm; if possible, immediately call the person whom was
claimed kidnapped and find out whether he or she is alright.

- if in my mum's situation, do what my mum did; seek passerby's help.
I don't think its wise to act alone.

- Although I don't see what the police can help, in the case of my
mum, but still call them.

- And when you do come across pple who seek help like that, please do
give a helping hand. My mum actually approached 2 men, before this
kind lady was able to render help.


God Bless,

Cecilia & Cynthia

- Samuel Leon