MARANG, MALAYSIA: A group of Arabs pretending to be tourists looking for directions is believed to be involved in two cheating cases involving hawkers here over the past 48 hours.

In the first incident at 11.30am on Saturday, a 51-year-old cold drinks seller from Gong Penaga in Pasir Panjang, who was on his way to deliver beverages to a customer, was stopped by the suspects, two men and a woman who were driving a Proton Gen 2, near Kampung Wakaf Tapai here.

One of the men approached the victim and showed a map on the pretext of asking for directions. He then showed a Riyal $100 note and asked for a ringgit note for comparison.

The victim then showed the suspect a RM50 (S$21) note which he took from a waist pouch. When the trio left, the victim realised that all his money in the pouch totalling RM800 (S$336) was missing.

In the second incident on Monday, four Arabs, including a woman who were in a Naza Citra, used the same tactic when they stopped a 35-year-old bread seller at a petrol station here.

They cheated the victim of RM1,000 (S$421) without the victim realising the money had been stolen from his waist pouch.