This happened to me two months ago. While walking along a certain street in Malaysia (lets not mention which one specifically), a car stops next to me and the guy in the front passenger seat hails me. Naturally, I’m a bit apprehensive so I maintain a distance between myself and the car while talking to the passenger. He whips out a RM100 bill from his wallet and asks me for small change, preferably 2 RM50 notes. I didn’t have any change at the moment (and even if I did, I would have acted as if I didn’t). So I told him to try getting change at the petrol (gas) station just a few metres away from where this happened. The passenger thanked me, but drove off at full speed immediately, not bothering to stop at the petrol station at all.
You may say this might be just an ordinary occurrence. I mean, isn’t it normal for people to ask for small change on the road? Yes, under normal circumstances, there wouldn’t be anything fishy about this. But before you come to this conclusion, keep reading.
Since that day, the same thing happened to me around 10 times. 10 times, mind you. The 10 occurrences, though not exactly similar, has a pattern. Firstly, all the cars were luxury type cars (Mercedes Benz, BMW etc). Secondly, all the incidences happened in the same street, just on different points along the street. Thirdly, the car drivers and passengers were always people of middle eastern descent and they appear to be middle aged. Fourthly, the amount is always the same: a RM100 note. Finally, they never stop at the petrol station I suggest to them but they just speed off.
I don’t know if this is a criminal activity of some kind but I have my suspicions that there are parties who are trying to exchange counterfeit money for real money. I have no solid proof on that and any similar cases haven’t been reported in any media channel in Malaysia. Nevertheless, I still urge Malaysians to be careful if you are caught in a similar situation. Feedback from those who have been in such a situation is most welcome.