52-Year-Old Malaysian Woman Loses RM348K After Being Duped By Facebook "Friend"
An administrative clerk lost RM348,050 (USD110,335) after being duped by a male friend she knew through Facebook.
An administrative clerk, who lost RM348,050 after being duped by a male friend she knew through Facebook, lodged a police report at 4.08pm yesterday, 15 August
Miri Police Chief, ACP Gan Tian Kee said police would take follow-up action by obtaining the bank account of the victim and seek help from Bukit Aman police
"Don't be easily taken in by Facebook friends, especially those promising lucrative returns as this is the modus operandi of confidence tricksters," he said Saturday.
bernama.com.myThe woman was contacted by the man who is believed to be a British national, who sought the victim's help by claiming that he had inherited £120,000 (RM632,400) from his late father which had been posted to Malaysia
"The man claimed that the money would be used to spend life with the victim," Gan said.
thestar.com.myOn July 10, a woman believed to be a British national too, had contacted the victim to say that the money had arrived at the KL International Airport
Gan said the woman asked the victim to pay the postage fee of RM6,450 and the victim had paid the postage fee by depositing the money into the bank account given by the woman.
bernama.com.mySubsequently, the victim was again contacted by the same woman
This time she asked her to increase the payment which, she claimed, was to pay for the legal fees to obtain the certificate to get the money totalling RM632,400.
thestar.com.myThe victim was then contacted by the man on 18 July, claiming that he had arrived in KL and asked her to make the payment
He said that the victim was told that the money was purportedly for payment of taxes and the victim had made 13 transactions at various banks in installments.
bernama.com.myThe case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of not more than 10 years and a fine upon conviction