Public Advised To Beware Of Conmen Selling Cheap Goods
By Syed Rory Malai Hassan

Bandar Seri Begawan - The public has been advised to beware of strangers who approach them on the pretext of selling cheap jewellery or electronic goods as they might unwittingly be duped or worst the items they buy might be stolen goods.

A common phenomenon observed by several people is that they are approached by a person with a sob story to gain the sympathy of the unsuspecting buyer who finds it difficult to turn down the offer as he thinks he is helping a person facing bad times.

Preying on the caring and sympathetic nature of the general public, these shady characters can go to any length to con their victims into parting with their hard earned money.

Whether or not these stories are true accounts of their miseries, the nature of their methods cast a shadow of doubt which simply leaves those affected with a sense of helpless dissatisfaction.

Hj Mahrub Serudin, who was approached by such a person at a busy commercial area in Gadong, said that a man that came up to him seemed desperate and nervous as he flashed an expensive gold watch which he said he wants to sell urgently. The story this man narrated was that he needs some money desperately so that he can return to his country as his child had fallen ill and there was no one to care for him.

"What puzzled me the most was from where he got the watch in the first place," said Hj Mahrub as he described the man to be very suspicious looking and not the type of person who could afford such a watch to begin with.

"When I asked him from where he got the watch, he simply said that his employer had given it to him as payment of his unpaid wages," added Hj Mahrub.

Similar stories have also been heard by many others ranging from sick family members to cruel and unjust employers who have abandoned their responsibilities.

Others have shared stories of strangers coming up to them asking to borrow money with expensive items or family heirlooms such as jewellery and watches given as collateral and a promise of coming back in a week's time to claim the item and pay the borrowed money.

The Royal Brunei Police Force having recorded numerous reports of these errant activities over the years, have once again reminded and advised the public to always be wary of strangers and take precautionary measures to ensure that they are not taken for a ride.

The police have also advised the public to contact the nearest police station or the 993 hotline for any doubts and suspicions regarding either the items being offered or any stranger that approaches them with these offers.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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