Retiree in Malaysia loses $49,040 after being scammed to be a sperm donor for a ‘beautiful woman' in HK
The 57-year-old parted with RM161,000 to the scammers before finally deciding to call off the 'deal'. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Retiree in Malaysia loses $49,040 after being scammed to be a sperm donor for a 'beautiful woman' in HK
Having ignored warnings from the bank and police, a retiree lost RM161,000 (S$49,040) after being lured by an online scam to become a sperm donor for a supposedly beautiful woman in Hong Kong.
The 57-year-old saw an advertisement on social media stating that the woman wanted to bear a child and that there would be a reward of HK$2mil (S$327,940) for the man chosen.
'I was communicating with a person claiming to be a lawyer for the woman who said he would formalise the agreement.
'I was told to make several payments, including RM10,000 for air tickets and RM30,000 for protection services for her,' the man told a press conference held by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong in Ku ala Lumpur on June 5.
The retiree, who identified himself as Tan, said he continued to make more payments, including to fly in doctors who would monitor him to ensure that the baby would be born healthy.
In total, Tan parted with RM161,000 to the scammers before finally deciding to call off the 'deal', without even meeting the woman or the so-called lawyer in person.
Mr Chong said he was disappointed with Tan for being so gullible and falling for what was an outright scam.
'The bank officer called and asked to meet with him on the transactions, as he suspected it was a scam.
'After meeting the bank officer and a policeman who told him the same thing, Tan continued to make payments to the scammer.
'The scammer told Tan not to be scared and that his payment was ready, and even provided a screenshot of a cheque written out to him.
'Tan admits he had been utterly stupid to fall for this. He only hopes that others will not fall victim like him,' Mr Chong said.
Mr Chong said he believed that the woman in the photos was also a victim, with her details being used by scammers. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Animal cruelty: Florida fisherman charged for stabbing shark multiple times
Charter fisherman Zane P. Garrett, 26, was arrested on June 5 and charged with animal cruelty. PHOTO: MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MIAMI – A charter fisherman in Florida was charged with animal cruelty after a video showed him stabbing a shark multiple times. The fisherman, Zane P. Garrett, 26, of Stock Island in the Florida Keys, was arrested by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on June 5 and charged with the felony count. Law enforcement officials received tips on May 23 about a man 'repeatedly stabbing a shark on a fishing line before cutting the line and releasing the animal', the agency said in a statement. It was unclear if the shark survived. A video, which has since been widely circulated, shows a man stabbing the shark with a knife and includes a caption that reads 'bud broke my rod'. Conservation agents located Garrett's boat in Key West and identified him as the charter captain on the day of the attack. He later admitted to the stabbing. It was not immediately clear what potential penalties Garrett might face. 'The careless cruelty displayed in this video is unacceptable,' said Major Alberto Maza, the South B regional commander of the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 'I'm proud of the public for reporting this senseless act and our officers' work in identifying the subject and holding him accountable.' According to WPLG Local 10 in Miami, an arrest warrant stated that Garrett attacked the shark because it had stolen his fish. Garrett declined to comment when reached by phone on June 6. According to his website, Garrett operates Second Nature Charters in Key West, with prices starting at US$900 (S$1,160) for four hours of tarpon fishing. The charter boat is an 11m Torres sport fishing vessel that can accommodate up to six passengers. 'With Captain Zane at the helm, every fishing excursion becomes an unforgettable journey filled with camaraderie, laughter and, most importantly, epic catches that will be cherished for a lifetime,' according to the site. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said sharks have been known to take fish off a line or bite boat motors, 'an unfortunate side effect of healthy and sustainable shark populations'. A screen grab shows a charter fisherman stabbing a shark. PHOTO: WPLG LOCAL 10 The commission's advice: Move to another area away from shark activity. In May, another Florida charter fisherman was sentenced to 30 days for shooting and poisoning dolphins from his boat, including doing so once in front of two school-aged children. The captain was frustrated with the dolphins for stealing his catch, investigators said at the time. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Three killed in Russian attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv; Ukrainian drones injure two near Moscow
Residents walk in front of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Vitalii Hnidyi Rescuers assist an injured resident after she was released from debris of a building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova Servicemen of the unmanned aircraft systems unit 'Fenix' of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service prepare a Vampire heavy combat drone before its flight over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, Ukraine June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Anatolii Stepanov Firefighters work at the site of a building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Firefighters work inside an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Vitalii Hnidyi Three killed in Russian attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv; Ukrainian drones injure two near Moscow LONDON - Overnight missile and bomb strikes by Russia on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv left three people dead and 22 hurt, while a Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow region wounded two people, officials from both countries said separately on Saturday. Russian forces used high-precision long-range weapons and drones to hit designated military targets in Ukraine overnight, hitting all of them, according to Russia's Defence Ministry. Separately, Ukraine has indefinitely postponed accepting the bodies of its killed soldiers and the exchange of prisoners of war, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said. This was counter to an agreement between the two countries at a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, where they said they would swap more prisoners and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. The northeastern city of Kharkiv, one of Ukraine's largest, is just a few dozen kilometres (miles) from the Russian border and has been under frequent Russian shelling during more than three years of war triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion. "Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack since the start of the full-scale war," Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post on Telegram earlier on Saturday. Residential buildings, educational and infrastructure facilities were attacked, he said, and photos showed buildings burnt and reduced partially to rubble, as rescuers carried the wounded away for treatment. Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said there could still be people buried under the rubble after one civilian industrial facility was hit by 40 drones and several bombs. In the Moscow region, two people were injured after a drone attack by Ukraine overnight and on Friday, Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram, with nine drones shot down. Russia's aviation watchdog said operations had resumed at the Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky airports in the Moscow region after being suspended temporarily for flight safety reasons. The Defence Ministry said that since midnight, air defence units had intercepted and destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, including the Moscow region. Ukraine's air forces also shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet on Saturday morning, its military said without providing further details. Russian forces have not yet commented on the matter while Reuters could not independently verify the report. A Ukrainian drone attack deep inside Russian territory last weekend likely damaged around 10% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet and hit some of the aircraft as they were being prepared for strikes on Ukraine, a senior German military official said in a YouTube podcast set for broadcast later on Saturday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Ukraine says it shot down Russian Su-35 fighter jet
FILE PHOTO: A Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter performs a flight during the Aviadarts competition, as part of the International Army Games 2021, at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia August 27, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File photo Ukraine says it shot down Russian Su-35 fighter jet KYIV - Ukraine's air forces shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet on Saturday morning, the Ukrainian military said. "This morning, on June 7, 2025, as a result of a successful Air Force operation in the Kursk direction, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was shot down," the military said on the Telegram messenger. It gave no more details. Russian forces have not yet commented on the matter while Reuters could not independently verify the report. Ukraine's security agency, the SBU, conducted a large drone attack on over 40 Russian military aircraft last week, damaging or destroying tens of Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
