Carpenter loses RM500 to online con artist

A CARPENTER lost RM500 after he failed to receive two fake Rolex watches he ordered online, China Press reported.

“I knew the watches were counterfeit goods but since they were not too expensive and said to be water-resistant, I decided to purchase two,” said the 47-year-old from Johor, who placed his order via Facebook.

The victim said he banked in RM500 to the seller at around 1pm on June 29 and was sent a postal tracking number that evening.

He did not suspect anything amiss until about a week later when he failed to get his watches.

“When I tried to check with the seller on July 5, I was shocked to find that he had blocked my Facebook account, and I also could not reach him on the mobile number given to me,” he said.

He later discovered that the postal tracking number was non-existent. He lodged a police report.

> A local drug trafficking syndicate is luring youngsters to be its “mules” by offering RM15,000 and free return air tickets, according to Oriental Daily.

The “mules” will be asked to put on custommade clothes with compartments to conceal a high amount of cocaine to be sent to Macau.

Quoting sources, the Chinese daily said the syndicate would seek male and female “mules” on social media.

Through a middleman, they would be taken to a location in Kuala Lumpur for his or her measurement for the special purpose attire, which will be completed in seven days.

The youngsters are to fly to Macau, where the outfit is to be removed and handed over to a syndicate member.

A fee of RM15,000 will immediately be paid to the “mule”.

> Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching is looking at recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) by the end of this year, major Chinese newspapers reported.

Teo was quoted as saying that a discussion with the new leadership of Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia), which administers UEC, would take place on Friday.

She hopes to fulfil the Pakatan Harapan’s election promise by this year, adding that she believed the move to recognise UEC would only need the approval of the Cabinet and not require debates in Parliament.