Three women in Miri lose RM36,400 in total to online scams

MIRI (Nov 3): Three women fell victim to online scams in separate cases, losing a total of RM36,400.

According to Miri district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu, all the victims lodged police reports on Oct 31.

He said the first case involved a clerk in her 40s who lost RM11,400 in a non-existent loan scam.

“The victim wanted to apply for a loan amounting to RM20,000 after seeing an advertisement on Facebook.

“However, when she contacted the suspect, she was asked to make some payments before she could receive the loan,” he explained.

Alexson said the suspect instructed the victim to make payments via online banking to three different bank accounts.

“The victim made 10 online transactions to the account numbers provided by the suspect, totalling RM11,400.

“She realised that she had been scammed when the suspect continued to ask for more money, even after she had already transferred RM11,400,” said Alexson.

He said that the second case involved a housewife in her 40s who was interested in buying a used pickup truck online.

“The victim saw an advertisement for a used pickup truck on Facebook and contacted the suspect.

“She made four transactions to three different bank accounts via cash deposit machines, amounting to RM11,000,” said Alexson.

He added that the victim suspected a scam when the suspect asked for more money to pay for the pickup truck’s outstanding summonses.

Alexson said the third case involved a woman in her 20s who bought a gold bar online but received stationery instead.

“The victim had seen a gold bar advertisement on Facebook and was interested in buying it.

“She contacted the suspect via WhatsApp and agreed to purchase the gold bar. The victim made two transactions to a bank account number given by the suspect, amounting to RM14,000,” said Alexson.

He said that the victim realised she had been scammed when she received a parcel containing stationery instead of the gold bar she had paid for.