A simple request for RM10 took an unexpected turn after a woman decided to check the Touch ’n Go eWallet transaction history of a stranger who claimed he had no money to get home.
According to SinChew, the incident began when an older man approached the woman and told her that he was short of money and needed RM10 to pay for his journey home. For many people, RM10 may seem like a small amount, hardly enough to make someone think twice before helping a person who appears to be stranded. But something about the situation made the woman hesitate.
Instead of immediately transferring the money, she decided to check the man's Touch ’n Go eWallet transaction history. What she discovered left her stunned. According to the transaction records, the man had made numerous transactions within the same day. His account activity appeared far from what one would expect from someone who claimed he had no money to get home. In fact, judging from his transaction history, the man seemed to be doing considerably better financially than the woman herself.
The discovery immediately changed the situation. What initially appeared to be a straightforward request for help suddenly raised questions: Was the man genuinely short of money, or was asking strangers for RM10 simply another way of getting easy cash? The woman ultimately decided not to proceed with the transfer. The incident has since sparked discussion online, with many people pointing out that even seemingly harmless requests for small amounts of money should not always be taken at face value.
RM10 May Be Small ! But Repeated Requests Add Up
One reason such encounters can be difficult to identify is the relatively small amount being requested. A person asking for RM10 may not immediately appear suspicious. Compared with larger scams involving thousands of ringgit, a request for a few ringgit can seem almost insignificant. But that is precisely what can make such tactics effective. When the amount is small, people may be more willing to help without asking questions. For someone who encounters dozens of people in a day, however, repeated requests for small amounts could potentially add up. This is why some members of the public believe that people should pay attention not only to the amount being requested, but also to the circumstances surrounding the request.
Jovy Jing (ndreagoh@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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