Housewife poorer after falling for love scam

BATU PAHAT: A 30-year-old lonely housewife, who befriended a British man on Facebook, was duped of RM145,000 in a love scam.

The woman had made contact with the suspect, known as Robert, through social media a few months ago.

He messaged her several days ago that he was going to Sarawak for a business trip.

He later informed her that he was robbed while in Sarawak and had lost everything.

“He managed to convince the woman to deposit money for him to pay the Immigration Department and other agencies in Sarawak so he could come and meet her in Johor,” sources said.

The man also claimed that he needed money to engage a lawyer.

Soon after she banked in the money, she was unable to contact the suspect.

She then lodged a police report and police have since classified the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

Meanwhile in an unrelated case, a search-and-rescue (SAR) team discovered the body of the missing 16-year-old fisherman from Rambah, Pontian, off Sungai Ayam waters in Batu Pahat.

Pontian OCPD Supt Zakaria Abd Rahman said the body of Mohd Syami Hasing was found floating by fishermen in the area at around 9.30am yesterday.