Latest news with #PenangPolice
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Factory manager loses RM300,000 to love scam
GEORGE TOWN: An analysis manager at a factory in Bayan Baru, here, lost RM300,000 after falling victim to a love scam through social media. Penang Police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the incident began when the 45-year-old woman became acquainted with a man claiming to be an American citizen via Facebook in November last year. He said not long after, they started communicating via WhatsApp after the man allegedly expressed a desire to pursue a serious relationship with the victim. "The suspect introduced himself as a businessman in the field of information technology (IT), claiming to be operating a business in a foreign country. "After a month of getting to know one another, the suspect told the victim that his bank account had been frozen in that country and asked for her help to make payments for the delivery of important stock related to his business," he said in a statement today. Mohd Alwi said the suspect promised to repay the money and even offered additional payment as a token of appreciation to convince the victim. Lured by the online romance and trusting the suspect, the woman then made 16 transactions to five different bank accounts between Dec 12 and 14, 2024. However, the victim realised that she had been scammed when the suspect asked for more money, allegedly to cover his travel expenses to visit her in Malaysia. He also sent her a tampered photo of a passport. Mohd Alwi said the woman lodged a police report at the Barat Daya police headquarters yesterday. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. – Bernama
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Factory manager loses RM300k to love scam in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: A factory analysis manager in Bayan Baru fell victim to a love scam, losing RM300,000 after being deceived by a man posing as an American businessman on social media. Penang Police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin revealed that the 45-year-old woman met the suspect on Facebook in November last year. The man, who claimed to be an IT entrepreneur operating abroad, later moved their conversations to WhatsApp, expressing interest in a serious relationship. Mohd Alwi stated, 'After a month of getting to know one another, the suspect told the victim that his bank account had been frozen in that country and asked for her help to make payments for the delivery of important stock related to his business.' Trusting the suspect, the woman transferred money 16 times between Dec 12 and 14, 2024, to five different bank accounts. The scammer promised repayment with additional appreciation money to gain her confidence. The victim realised she had been cheated when the suspect demanded more funds, supposedly for travel expenses to visit her in Malaysia. He also sent a doctored passport photo. The woman filed a police report at the Barat Daya police headquarters yesterday. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Factory manager loses RM300,000 to love scam
GEORGE TOWN: An analysis manager at a factory in Bayan Baru here lost RM300,000 after falling victim to a love scam through social media. Penang Police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the incident began when the 45-year-old woman became acquainted with a man claiming to be an American citizen via Facebook in November 2024. He said not long after, they started communicating via WhatsApp after the man allegedly expressed a desire to pursue a serious relationship with the victim. "The suspect introduced himself as a businessman in the field of information technology (IT), claiming to be operating a business in a foreign country. "After a month of getting to know one another, the suspect told the victim that his bank account had been frozen in that country and asked for her help to make payments for the delivery of important stock related to his business," he said in a statement on Friday (June 27). Mohd Alwi said the suspect promised to repay the money and even offered additional payment as a token of appreciation to convince the victim. Lured by the online romance and trusting the suspect, the woman then made 16 transactions to five different bank accounts between Dec 12 and 14, 2024. However, the victim realised that she had been scammed when the suspect asked for more money, allegedly to cover his travel expenses to visit her in Malaysia. He also sent her a tampered photo of a passport. Mohd Alwi said the woman lodged a police report at the Barat Daya police headquarters on Thursday. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. - Bernama
Barnama
10 hours ago
- Barnama
Factory Manager Loses RM300,000 To Love Scam
GEORGE TOWN, June 27 (Bernama) -- An analysis manager at a factory in Bayan Baru, here, lost RM300,000 after falling victim to a love scam through social media. Penang Police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the incident began when the 45-year-old woman became acquainted with a man claiming to be an American citizen via Facebook in November last year. He said not long after, they started communicating via WhatsApp after the man allegedly expressed a desire to pursue a serious relationship with the victim. 'The suspect introduced himself as a businessman in the field of information technology (IT), claiming to be operating a business in a foreign country. 'After a month of getting to know one another, the suspect told the victim that his bank account had been frozen in that country and asked for her help to make payments for the delivery of important stock related to his business,' he said in a statement today. Mohd Alwi said the suspect promised to repay the money and even offered additional payment as a token of appreciation to convince the victim. Lured by the online romance and trusting the suspect, the woman then made 16 transactions to five different bank accounts between Dec 12 and 14, 2024. However, the victim realised that she had been scammed when the suspect asked for more money, allegedly to cover his travel expenses to visit her in Malaysia. He also sent her a tampered photo of a passport. Mohd Alwi said the woman lodged a police report at the Barat Daya police headquarters yesterday.
