US: American women targeted as Malaysia becomes Internet scam haven

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Hundreds of American women are being ensnared by Internet scammers based in Malaysia, with some losing over a quarter of a million dollars, as the country becomes an epicentre for online crime perpetrated by Africans, US officials say.

The mostly Nigerian conmen, who enter Malaysia on student visas, take advantage of the country's good Internet infrastructure to prey on lonely, middle-aged women, wooing them on dating websites before swindling their savings, they said.