KUANTAN: A 75-year-old woman was on cloud nine when the luxury gifts — a Mercedes Benz car and US$150,000 in cash — promised by her lover 'arrived' in Malaysia last month.
The woman from Raub assumed that she had found love online, and did not give it a second thought when told to pay taxes to receive the gifts. She ended up losing RM39,750 to a romance scam.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the victim had on WhatsApp befriended a stranger, who claimed to be from the United Kingdom.
"The scammer promised to send a Mercedes Benz car and US$150,000 in cash to the victim. Several days later, she was contacted by a man claiming to be from the Customs Department. He told her the car and cash had arrived in Malaysia.
"The officer said she had to pay the required taxes so that she could collect the luxury vehicle and cash.
"The victim made six transfers amounting to RM39,750 into six bank accounts. When the suspects continued to demand for more cash in order to release the gifts, the victim sensed something was amiss."