Woman loses RM5,250 to scammer over RM101 sale

SIBU: Be wary when someone on social media offers to buy your old coins and banknotes.

A 31-year-old housewife in Kapit was duped of RM5,250 by an individual who contacted her on the pretext of being interested in old currency.

Kapit OCPD Deputy Supt Freddy Bian said the woman received a message from the individual on her Instagram on Jan 8.

"As she had two 1989 100-cent coins from Surinam, she called up the individual, saying she wanted to sell them," DSP Freddy told reporters here on Thursday (Feb 4).

When the woman agreed to sell the coins for US$25 (RM101.40), the individual asked her to pay a variety of fees and taxes amounting to RM2,750.

"After she transferred the amount on Jan 31, the individual later claimed that he had not received the money.

"She was told to transfer a further RM2,500, which she did on

Tuesday," said DSP Freddy.

The woman finally realised that she had been conned when the individual insisted that she pay another RM2,500.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.