Elderly Kuching woman loses over RM1.2 mln in love scam
KUCHING (Aug 1): A 64-year-old woman lost RM1,213,742 in an online love scam that began late last year.
Acting Kuching district police chief Supt Merbin Lisa said the victim lodged a report on July 26, revealing she had been deceived over several months.
The scam began in December 2024, when she was contacted via WhatsApp by someone using the name 'Zhao Yong' and the number +852 5747 3477.
After building trust, the scammer introduced another individual posing as a lawyer named 'Hai Na Bai Chuan', who claimed to be handling a cash gift on Zhao's behalf.
A third accomplice, purportedly a bank manager named 'Kamarul Ranizu', was later introduced to facilitate the transaction.
'Trusting the scammer's elaborate promises, the woman borrowed money from relatives, sold her car, and secured loans from licensed moneylenders to make a series of payments.
'Between December 2024 and July this year, she made a total of 25 transactions across 18 different bank accounts, supposedly to cover taxes and other 'processing fees'.
'Eventually realising she had been deceived, the victim reported the matter to police, disclosing the total loss of RM1,213,742,' Merbin said in a statement.
He added that this case is among eight love scams recorded by Kuching district's Commercial Crime Investigation Division between Jan 1 and July 31 this year, with combined losses totalling RM1,326,050.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property, which carries a sentence of not less than one year and up to ten years in prison, whipping, and a possible fine upon conviction.
Merbin urged the public to remain vigilant when engaging with strangers online.
He also reminded that online scams are a form of commercial crime that can be avoided if individuals stay informed and cautious, fostering a safer and scam-free community. elderly woman Kuching love scam Merbin Lisa
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