A freight forwarder loses over RM60,000 in a love scam

Within 20 days of meeting a woman he met on the WeChat app, a freight forwarder fell victim to a love fraud and lost almost RM60,000.

The 28-year-old local male victim said the event started in early August when he met the suspect, whom he thought was a local woman, according to Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat, the chief of police for Johor Bahru South District.

He claimed that after roughly 20 days of meeting, the suspect requested money, ostensibly to pay for her mother’s medical bills.

“If the victim didn’t assist, the suspect threatened to break up with him. Between August 25 and November 16, 2024, the victim was tricked into making 16 transfers totalling RM63,826 to a bank account.

“The defendant ignored the victim’s request to meet with her and her family, continuing to use a variety of justifications to avoid the encounter.

“Being suspicious, the victim looked up the suspect’s WeChat profile using Google Image. He consequently discovered that the photo belonged to a well-known Hong Kong actor,” he claimed.

The investigation focuses on Section 420 of the Penal Code.