Housewife loses life-savings to parcel scam

BINTULU: A 52-year- old housewife here lost RM187,100 from her life savings to a parcel scam on March 24.

According to Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department ( CCID) chief Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah, the victim had logged into her Facebook account while at home on March 3, and got acquainted with a man named ‘ Michael Zhang’.

While getting acquainted, ‘ Michael’ told the housewife that he wanted to send over a gift to her but the victim was not informed what gift would be given.

“On March 14, the suspect contacted the victim through WhatsApp and told the victim that he had sent over the gift to her from Los Angeles but was detained by customs in Kuala Lumpur.

“The suspect told the victim that she must pay a sum of money for release of the item, obtain anti- terrorism certificate, item security guarantee, release of distribution of the item from abroad and for stamp insurance fee,” said Mustafa in a press statement yesterday.

The victim who was deceived by the persuasion of the suspect later performed several money transactions amounting to RM187,100 to an account that the suspect had provided.

“Only after the payment of RM187,100 was made did the victim realised that she has been deceived and the matter was only a fraud,” he added.