Cancer test by bogus NGO

They came in a group of four and convinced many to part with almost RM200 each for what they claimed were conclusive blood tests to detect cancer.
But there is one huge snag – their so-called non-governmental organisation does not exist.
Charging RM198 for a comprehensive blood test covering tumour markers for cancer, the bogus NGO officials have been going around proclaiming that the Health Ministry had subsidised 40% of the cost.
The scam begins with a telephone call by a “Datin” from the “Medic Cancer Community of Malaysia/Persatuan Kanser Malaysia,” to the human resource units of private companies.
She does a good job sweet-talking the officials, telling them that the ministry had made it mandatory for private companies to support a cancer awareness programme conducted by her “NGO”.
She would tell the officials that all female staff should attend a talk on cancer awareness and prevention.
At the talk, a woman in her 30s, smartly dressed in a three-piece executive suit, lectures her audience about cancer and its miseries, with photographs of sufferers to boot.
Talks were held on an almost daily basis at companies operating within the Klang Valley. After the talks, the employees were asked to sign a consent letter to be subjected to blood tests.
Blood samples are taken several days later, and the results have to be collected at a designated clinic.
The surprise is that cash is not accepted. The payment mode is only via credit card or cheque.
Checks with the ministry and the Registrar of Societies revealed that the NGO does not exist, with Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican denying any involvement on the part of the ministry.
“First of all, we have sufficient manpower and medical expertise to conduct such talks and we do not need anyone to represent us,” he added.
The scam was uncovered by chance last year when someone called the national enquiry line “103” to ask for the contact number of the so-called “cancer society” to find out details about the awareness talk.
Over the past year and a half, more than 50 people have contacted the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) to say that they had been approached by the bogus NGO.
A victim, who declined to be named, revealed that when she and her colleagues learnt that they had been cheated, they asked the bogus NGO for an explanation “but we were spoken to rudely.”
Another victim, a 41-year-old secretary, said: “We were told that we could eat and drink anything before the blood test except eat nasi lemak.”
Alerting the public against the scam, NCSM executive director Dr Saunthari Somasundram said the society only gave talks at the invitation of a company or organisation.
Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Kamal Pasha Jamal confirmed that a woman had lodged a police report about the scam on Aug 19.
“We have advised the complainant to refer the matter to the Health Ministry and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.”
Source