Woman loses RM370,500 in Internet love scam

KUCHING: A 33-year- old woman in Sibu yesterday became the latest victim of an internet love scam, ending up losing RM370,500 in cash.

The civil servant claimed that she lost the money after knowing the alleged swindler through the Tantan App in August 2018 and since then until January this year she had deposited the sum into several bank accounts.

She claimed that some of the money was hers and the rest was borrowed.

She said the suspect claimed he was an engineer residing in London and he had promised to marry her one day.

She claimed the deposited cash was intended to pay medical bills of his ailing mother as well as for food and lodging and also to finance his building project in London.

She only realised that she was cheated after finding out from Google App that the photograph used by the suspect was fake.

She lodged a report at a police station in Sibu, said State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah.

Mustafa cautioned members of the public not to be easily hoodwinked by unknown individuals through meetings on social media or internet app.

He said if the evidence placed before them are consistent and complete he is very confident that the police could identify the suspect or suspects and bring him or them to justice.