KOTA BARU: A jobless woman, in her 30s, was duped by a man she befriended on Facebook recently.
She ended up losing RM11,700 before realising she had been taken for a ride.
State Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Superintendent Ahmad Azizul Mohamed said the con started in May.
"According to the victim, a month after their friendship began, the man who claimed to be from Europe, told her that he wanted to visit her in Malaysia.
"On July 22, the man had messaged the woman that he had arrived in Malaysia but was detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for quarantine.
"The following day, a woman claiming to be a government officer contacted the victim, telling her she needed to pay a certain sum of money for the quarantine cost of her friend.
"She made the first deposit of RM5,200 on July 22 to a bank account of an individual," he said.
He added the victim later made the second and the third deposits amounting to RM6,500 between July 23 and 26.
He said the victim was told that the amount was for the quarantine process, including hospital bill.
"The same woman also informed her that the man tested positive for Covid-19 and more money was needed for his treatment.
"Realising that she had been duped, the victim lodged a police report on July 28," Ahmad Azizul said.