Double whammy for woman as she loses job, gets conned by 'American lover'

GEORGE TOWN: It was a double whammy for a 28-year-old woman who lost her job as a promoter and was then cheated of RM1,500 by her “lover in America”.

The woman, who only wished to be known as Lee, said she got acquainted with a man named David on Facebook six months ago.

The victim had not met her 'lover' but they had been communicating via WhatsApp, according to Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng.

“Lee received a call from the 'Immigration office in Kuala Lumpur' on June 9 saying that her 'lover' David had been arrested and she needed to pay RM10,950 to secure his release.

“Lee asked for a reduced amount and was then told to pay RM5,500. However, Lee only transferred RM1,500 online to a bank account number given," Teh told a press conference here on Wednesday (June 17).

Lee was then contacted by David who asked for more money.

"He promised her that as an 'appreciation' for her love, he would pay her back when he was released and give her a car.

“At this point Lee sensed something amiss and stopped corresponding with David," said Teh, adding that Lee had lost her job as a promoter during the movement control order (MCO) period.

He reminded the public to beware of such tactics and not fall prey to online love scams, adding that they should report the matter to the police.

In another case, a hair salon owner, who wished to be known as Ooi, urged the operator of an online money game platform to stop harassing his friends and family after he racked up RM127,000 in losses.

Ooi said he received a message in July last year informing him he had been given RM200 in credit to play, with a link to a website.

“I began playing the money game and in October, I was told that I had chalked up losses of RM127,000.

“I paid RM80,000 and exited altogether," he said.

However, the money game operator kept raising the debt and then started to threaten him and splashed red paint at his shops.

“I have made eight police reports and even closed two of my shops as they threatened to hurt my workers and kept calling a few times a day," said Ooi.

He tried reaching out to the operator to settle the matter but to no avail.

“Then, they started to disturb my family and friends," he said.

He added that they also called the Penang Hairdressing and Hair Waving Association which they claimed Ooi had listed as a guarantor.

Teh called on the related party to stop harassing Ooi's family and associates and hoped that the police would investigate the matter.