KUANTAN: A nurse from Lipis is now RM22,150 poorer after falling for a parcel scam by her special Facebook friend.
The 37-year-old reported that she had befriended a man named 'Ahmad Mohammad', who claimed to be from the United Kingdom, on the social media platform on Dec 13.
She said they communicated through Facebook messenger and text messages after a brief introduction, adding that he used a local number starting with 011.
To celebrate their relationship, the suspect told her he wanted to send her some presents but she refused to accept them, said Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof.
However, Wazir said despite rejecting the offer, the victim was contacted by an airport-based ‘courier company’ on Dec 24. He added that the company also used a mobile phone number starting with 011.
"She was informed that there was a package for her and if she wanted it, she would need to pay for rental and delivery fees.
"On the same day, she transferred a total of RM2,800 to an account given by the alleged courier company.
"She then made a few more transactions worth RM5,150 to another bank account on Dec 27 and on Dec 28 she transferred RM6,000 to another bank account.
"On Dec 30, she continued transferring RM6,200 to another account and finally on the 31st, she paid RM2,000. The total amount she paid for this package from her Ahmad Mohammad was RM22,150," he said.
Wazir said all the accounts belonged to an individual, not the alleged company. At this juncture, he said the victim finally felt she had been cheated and lodged a police report on Jan 3.
He said the victim had fallen for a Macau parcel scam, where they seduced unsuspecting victims by giving some extra attention. Victims would become excited when they believe they were going to receive gifts from overseas.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping, and fine, if convicted.