Widow falls for parcel scam, over RM200,000 gone within two weeks
JOHOR BARU: A housewife who lost her husband to Covid-19 two years ago had her heart shattered again when her supposed online lover scammed her of her late husband’s insurance money.
She had befriended the man online last month.
The man, who claimed that he was from Jordan but now working in the UK, wanted to send her gifts to symbolise their friendship, said police sources.
Days later, the woman received a call from a man claiming to be from a courier company who wanted to deliver some expensive items to her.
It is learnt that the courier agent told the housewife that she must pay for the delivery charges and other costs.
Within two weeks, she carried out almost 20 transactions exceeding RM200,000.
According to sources, the woman became suspicious when the courier agent started to harass her for more money.
It is learnt that the woman, who was unable to contact her lover, told a relative who advised her to lodge a police report.
In another scam, a woman in her 60s from Kota Tinggi got a call from a courier agent claiming that she had a parcel with suspicious content.
The woman was immediately connected to a “policeman” who wanted to file a report against her, said police sources.
It is learnt that the woman was threatened by several “policemen” of various ranks, who accused her of being involved in smuggling.
The suspects duped the woman into believing that she was a victim of identity theft and wanted her to transfer her life savings of almost RM220,000 to other accounts for safekeeping.
“They assured her that the money would be returned to her once they wrapped up their investigations,” the sources said.
The woman decided to lodge a report after waiting almost a month with no update from the so-called police officers. She could not contact them either.
Meanwhile, another woman in her 50s lost almost RM200,000 in a phone scam several days ago.
It is learnt that she had received a text message saying that her credit card was used to make a purchase of at least RM3,000.
“When the woman made an enquiry via the number provided in the SMS, she was told that her card was used to make some purchases in Kuala Lumpur.
“She was then connected to a supposed Bank Negara official and also a policeman who wanted her bank account details,” the sources said.
Within days, all the money in her account was transferred out.
She then lodged a police report.
A police official confirmed all the three cases and said investigations were being carried out under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The official advised the public to be cautious when contacted by people posing as courier company agents, who would also transfer the call to supposedly enforcement officers from the police or Bank Negara.
The public can call the police hotline at 07-221 2999 for assistance.
