SIBU, July 3: A saleswoman thought that she had been struck by Cupid’s arrow, but ended up being cheated of RM35,550 in a love scam.
Sibu district deputy police chief Supt Collin Babat said the 34-year-old woman got acquainted with the suspect while browsing her Facebook page at about 8.10am on May 21.
“After a month of communicating with the suspect who identified himself as ‘David Lee Ching’, the woman fell in love with him,” he said.
The suspect subsequently also expressed his love for her and offered to send her a gift in the form of USD20,000 (RM 87,087).
Supt Collin said on May 29, the victim received a call from a woman disguised as an international money transfer agent.
“The suspect told her that she has to make several payments so that the money could be released to her,” he said.
The victim transferred a total of RM35,550 from June 3 to 30 to several account numbers provided by the suspect.
The money was supposedly for transfer fees, anti-money laundering fees and value tax fees.
She finally realised that she had been duped when she was asked to make another payment of RM27,500 as tax for foreign money.
The case, Supt Collin said, is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.—DayakDaily
