WOMAN DUPED BY ONLINE LOVER

42-year-old trader loses RM28,000 to claim gifts sent by FB friend

THRILLED by the opportunity to befriend a stranger on the Internet who promised her expensive gifts, a 42-year-old trader thought she had found love online. However, the gifts never arrived and instead, the woman ended up losing RM28,000 to a love scam syndicate.

The incident unfolded early last month when the victim befriended a man known as Mustapa Muhammad on Facebook (FB).

She was excited when the man told her he wanted to send her gifts, including jewellery, cash and a handphone.

Later, the victim said she was contacted by a Customs Department official who asked her to deposit money into two accounts for her to receive the gifts.

The victim complied and made 11 transactions totalling RM28,000 between Feb 11 and 22.

When she did not receive the gifts, she realised that she had been cheated.

In a separate case, a woman from Lipis was cheated of RM1,300 after she was duped by a stranger who offered to sell her jewellery.

State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said the 23-year-old victim befriended the suspect, a female, on FB last month.

He said earlier this month, the stranger offered to sell jewellery to the victim.

“She transferred RM1,300 into an account on Feb 10.

“After the transfer, she could no longer reach the seller.”

He said both cases were being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping, and a fine, upon conviction.