SUBANG JAYA: A woman ended up losing more than RM19,000 for helping a “soldier” who she got to know about a month ago through social media.
The woman claimed she was convinced to pay for the release of the man from the Customs department in Singapore where he was detained for carrying USD280,000 (RM1.15 million).
To release the man, the woman who works in the hotel industry, took a loan from a moneylender and gave RM19,600 via two transactions to the man’s bank account. The man had since absconded.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Azlin Sadari said the woman lodged a report yesterday and that investigations are continuing into the case classified as cheating.
The soldier who claimed he was posted in Australia, told the woman he was returning to Malaysia and that they made plans to meet up in Subang Jaya. The two got to know each other via Facebook.
The man then sought the victim’s help to pay for the duty stamp and his release charges to the Customs, which prompted the woman to borrow money from a moneylender.
“She loaned RM12,000 from the moneylender and made two transactions to the man’s bank account totaling RM19,600,” said Azlin adding she has not heard anything from the man since.