KOTA BARU: Women grappling with loneliness and a desperate search for companionship have become prime targets for online love scams.
Scammers use deceptive tactics, presenting attractive photos and sweet-talking voices to lure victims into parting with substantial sums of money, often reaching hundreds of thousands of ringgit.
Statistics from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) reveal that women account for 79.3 per cent of the 2,223 love scam cases reported from 2022 to August 2024.
Some victims initially recognise the scam but eventually become caught by sweet words, only to realise their financial losses too late.
Ella, a 45-year-old victim, recounted her experience of losing RM80,000 due to a love scam.
She said the incident occurred five years ago and still affects her today, as her savings vanished after being seduced by the charms of a man she knew as Haris.
"I met Haris through a dating app after my divorce. That's how our connection began, and for six months, we never met in person, only communicating via phone calls and WhatsApp.
"Due to my difficult first marriage, my relationship with Haris reignited my desire to find love.
"Initially, I thought Haris was just an illusion, possibly part of a love scam, especially since he sent me pictures of a handsome man resembling Hans Isaac, while I considered myself rather ordinary at 40.
"I was indeed aware at that time, but he was so skilled with his words that I felt like I was in a dream. We communicated nearly every hour, yet we never video called," she said.
She said that perhaps after feeling confident that she was trapped in love, Haris began to boldly ask for money, claiming that his business was facing difficulties.
"In fact, at that time, Haris was also aware of my financial situation since I worked as an officer at a private company. I was asked to transfer money to an account that was not in Haris' name.
"In a fit of blind love, I sent RM80,000 across four transactions. After that, both my money and Haris disappeared.
"I was sitting there, overwhelmed by the fact that it involved a significant amount of money. I had to accept my fate, as what happened was a result of my own mistakes. In my desperation to find a partner, I ended up ensnaring myself in a scam," she said.
The unfortunate story also befell a teacher named Anisah, 40, who lost RM50,000 after falling victim to a love scam.
The woman, in her 40s, had only known the man for a few months through Facebook, where he claimed to work as a pilot.
"After that, he sent me a message via WhatsApp after we exchanged phone numbers.
"He claimed he was raising funds to help underprivileged people in several countries and invited me to contribute.
"I was given five account numbers if I was interested in donating, and because I was attracted by his words, I fell for it," she said.
She said that initially, she transferred RM5,000 before being contacted by an agent who claimed there was an issue with the funds and that she needed to resolve it to avoid legal action.
"Fearing the threat, I made several more transactions to the five accounts provided, until my entire savings of RM50,000 was depleted.
"Only after that did I realise I had been scammed, and when I tried to contact him, I was unsuccessful. His Facebook account was also gone," she added.
She said that she did not file a police report because she felt embarrassed if others found out, and she advised all women to be cautious of such scams.
Meanwhile, crime analyst Shahul Hamid Abdul Rahim said that several factors contribute to women being more likely to fall victim to love scams, one key reason is that they are often perceived as more open when it comes to emotional and personal relationships.
He said that syndicates take advantage of this by devising strategies to evoke feelings of empathy among women.
He added that lonely women, singles, widows, and financially well-off women are among the primary targets of love scammers.
"Many women, particularly those over 40, continue to fall victim, despite frequent media reports on such cases.
"The occurrence of love scams is largely due to women being inclined to entertain attention, which ultimately leads them to fall into deception. A few sweet promises can easily sway them, resulting in significant financial loss.
"Some are also deceived after joining dating platforms, even though they should be able to assess situations more rationally," he said.
He advised women not to be easily swayed by sweet talk from unknown individuals, which can lead to losses of hundreds of thousands of ringgit.
"I advise against entertaining calls from unknown individuals, as such engagements can lead to prolonged conversations and financial losses.
"Don't prolong conversations with people you don't know. Even when looking for a partner, assess the situation with sound judgment and don't be easily swayed by sweet promises," he added.
Tips to avoid love scam:
- Be wary of unknown phone calls and messages.
- Never share personal details, such as your full name, address, or information about family and friends.
- Avoid sending or accepting money; remember that even receiving money can make you a target.
- Research records and messages of strangers you just met.
- Think twice before making a video call. No matter how genuine the love seems, if its with a 'stranger,' you need to be cautious.
- Inform someone close to you if you plan to meet, and choose a public location such as a restaurant.