By Reza A Hamid
MELAKA – Besides having an unrequited love, a man lost RM117,759 after becoming a victim to the latest African Scam last November.
The Melaka Police Chief, Datuk Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said that the 42-years-old businessman realised that he was cheated and lodged a police report on 16 December.
According to the victim, he befriended and started dating the 52-years-old male suspect via Facebook account ‘David Us’ on 20 November.
“After knowing him for several days, the suspect stated his wish to send a gift of jewelry and cash amounting to US$79,000 (RM331,049) to his new boyfriend.
“Two days later, the victim received a call from a courier company, saying that he has a package. However, he had to make payment for the customs charges before he could claim the package,” he said during a news conference at the Melaka Police Contingent Headquarters at Bukit Beruang today. With him was the Chief of Melaka Commercial Crime Investigation Department, E Sudra Rajan.
Commenting further, Abdul Majid said that the victim was attracted by the high returns and made payments in stages to a local bank account owned by a housewife totalling RM RM117,759.
“The victim realised that he was cheated after he did not receive the promised package. On the contrary, the suspect continued to ask him to make additional payments.
“Based on police intelligence, the police arrested six African syndicate members, including three women aged between 35 to 50 years-old in two separate raids at a rented house in Puchong, Selangor on 30 December.
“Investigation on the housewife in her 50’s found that she was believed to be dating the main suspect of the case and allowed him to use her bank account for the scam,” he said.
Investigation found that the syndicate has been active for two years and they did not have valid travel documents.
“We suspect that they entered Malaysia illegally as they did not have any student visas and they are believed to have been active since two years ago.
“Further investigation is ongoing. We believe that the group was also involved in several other scams,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. -MalaysiaGazette
