Woman loses RM1.9m in scam

MELBOURNE: Melbourne resident Jennifer Chen, whose name has been changed, accepted a Facebook friend request late last year and thought nothing more of it.

A year later, that choice had cost her A$571,000 (RM1.9 million).

“Dr Frank Harrison” had told the 61-yearold Australian that he was an orthopaedic surgeon from the US, but his profile was actually a front for a team of scammers.

The photo they used was actually of US weight loss expert Dr Garth Davis.

The scam started in early November when “Dr Harrison” told Chen he was thinking of moving to Australia to start a business and wanted to meet her in person.

Chen, originally from China, told news. com.au that she then received a phone call from him.

“He told me ‘I’m at the airport in KL, I got in trouble’. “I said ‘What kind of trouble?’ “He said ‘I carried US$1.5 million (RM6.3 million) through customs. They think I’m carrying too much cash. “I got big penalty. Please help me.” A woman then phoned pretending to work for customs – and Chen was eventually convinced to pay a A$3,000 “penalty fee” so the rest of his money would be released.

“The customs officer girl, she told me stuff that sounds very true,” Chen said. “I really believed.” The deception accelerated. Soon, the con artists were asking for larger sums with wilder excuses.

Within six months, Chen had been convinced to make 33 payments.

“My psychology is I already pay the money to him,” Chen said.

“The girl tell me once you pay this you will get the money back, customs will release the luggage to him.

“I didn’t wake up. I didn’t realise both of them are group scam. “I also scared to tell my husband.” By the time she opened up to her husband, she had paid the scammers A$571,000 – her entire life savings.

Chen’s husband, originally from Malaysia, told news.com.au that she was targeted for her naivety.

“The scammers use Facebook information to pick their targets.” – The Independent