Scammers switch from sweet talk to threats

KUALA LUMPUR: Pay up or I’ll tell Interpol you are a terrorist!

That is how syndicates would threaten their victims if sweet-talking them as part of a love scam does not work.

Their latest victim was a 27-year-old businesswoman from Terengganu who thought she had found love on the Internet last September.

Her online lover was caring at first and would often compliment her and tell her everything she wanted to hear.

A few months later, her virtual lover told her that he had sent her a package to show his love for her.

Before any package arrived, the woman received a call from someone claiming to be from the “Customs Department”, who told her that the package contained about US$500,000 (RM1.65mil), which was undeclared, and could only be released if she paid a sum of money.

Fearing something was amiss, the woman refused to pay, and contacted her virtual lover.

The man then told her that if she did not pay to release the parcel, he would contact Interpol and tell them that she was involved with terrorists, and that the money was meant for terrorism.

She reluctantly parted with RM6,000 but no package ever arrived, and her lover then became uncontactable.

Bukit Aman Cyber Crimes and Multimedia division investigator Asst Supt Mohd Syafiq Jinuin Abdullah said this was the new tactic used by these syndicates to dupe their victims.

“They first prey on your greed, and if that does not work, then they use fear,” he said, adding that even though these scams have been around for years, the public still has not learnt from others’ mistakes.

“In January this year alone, we had 74 reported cases with losses totalling about RM3.61mil,” he said.

In 2012, 814 cases were reported with losses amounting to about RM33.61mil, but the number of cases increased last year to 1,095 with losses totaling RM35.69mil.

Statistics acquired from Bukit Aman showed that in 2013, 2,747 individuals were arrested for fraud, which also covers crimes such as love scams.

The arrests were 23.8% higher compared to 2012, where 2,219 were arrested.

“Do not easily part with money, especially when it is for someone whom you have never met in person,” said ASP Mohd Syafiq, who urged anyone facing such situations to contact relevant authorities first before making any monetary transaction.