KUALA LUMPUR: A 49-year-old man lost RM25,000 after falling victim to an online scam disguised as a sperm donation scheme that promised hefty returns to successful participants.
The victim, who only wanted to be identified as Lee, said he came across an advertisement featuring an attractive woman on Facebook offering up to RM1 million in cash for sperm donation to help her to conceive a child.
After submitting his details through an online form, Lee was contacted via WhatsApp by a woman who introduced herself as Chen Hui Ru from Singapore.
They began conversing, during which Lee was also told by Chen that the donation process would involve sexual intercourse.
The woman then provided Lee with a phone number, claiming it belonged to her lawyer to explain the next steps involved in the process.
"But before that, I had to pay RM1,000 as a deposit to be introduced to the lawyer.
"After making the payment, the lawyer contacted me via WhatsApp and provided a contract, which stated that I would receive RM1 million from the woman if she successfully conceived.
"I was also promised RM300,000 within 48 hours after signing the contract, with the remaining RM700,000 to be paid after the pregnancy," he said when met at Wisma MCA here today.
Present were MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head, Datuk Seri Michael Chong, and the party's legal adviser Marcus Chong.
Lee said he had requested several times to make a video call with the woman, but was given various excuses.
"We also exchanged pictures, and the woman informed me that I was very handsome, a gentleman, and that was why I was chosen to be the sperm donour.
"Based on the pictures given, the woman is beautiful. I was also told that the hotel expenses would be covered by her, and I just needed to come without spending any money," he added.
Lee, however, starts to feel something amiss when the lawyer for the woman asked him to pay RM24,000 as fees for 'processing purposes. Lee obliged.
Lee, however, started to feel something was amiss when the woman's lawyer asked him to pay RM24,000 in 'processing fees.' Despite this, Lee complied.
He said he had paid up to RM25,000, but when the lawyer demanded an additional RM30,000, he began to suspect that he had fallen victim to a scam.
Marcus described the contract given to Lee was unconvincing due to the unusual contract number, as well as the name of the firm mentioned in the document.
"However, the law firm mentioned in this contract does exist, as I have contacted them. After checking, it was found that their name was used by irresponsible parties," he said.