Online 'lover' cheats 67-year old woman via fake 'import duty' for 'gift'

SIBU: A 67-year old woman thought she had found a new love - but ended up being cheated by her online "lover."

Sibu OCPD Asst Comm Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said on Friday (Aug 17) that the woman had befriended a man supposedly from the United States via Facebook on Aug 6.

The man called himself "Junho Lee" and the woman, whose husband had passed away two years ago, was "smitten by his love," said ACP Stanley.

"It came to a point that he wanted to send her a gift."

On Aug 13, the woman made payment of RM7,800 for supposed "import duty" for the gift, after being asked to do so by the "lover".

She banked in another RM19,250 the next day in two transactions as she was told that the parcel contained expensive items.

"However, she finally came to her senses and realised she had been cheated when she was asked to make a further payment of RM12,500," said ACP Stanley.

In another case, an 18-year old odd job worker was also cheated in another scam on Aug 13, but only lodged a police report three days later.

ACP Stanley said the victim had on Aug 13 received a call from a man who claimed that he was an officer from Bank Simpanan Nasional.

"The man told the complainant to deposit RM1,000 into his bank account to avoid it being frozen.

"He was further told to update his phone number in his bank account," he said.

Upon checking, he was horrified to find RM2,000 missing from his account.

ACP Stanley said both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.