Another woman cheated on social network, loses RM250k

A local businesswoman was cheated of RM250,000 by a male foreigner she met on Facebook last May, and a woman who posed as a Kuala Lumpur Inland Revenue Board (IRB) officer.

The man, who identified himself as 'Hendry John' had earlier, gained the trust of the 48-year-old victim after promising to marry her and settle down in Malaysia.

Following this, the victim transferred her money in stages to seven separate accounts bearing different identities.

Sabah Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief, Supt Saiman Kasran said the foreigner had promised to marry the victim and reside in Malaysia as he claimed to have obtained a large business contract but needed to pay RM45,000 to the company concerned.

He said, at that juncture, a woman who identified herself as Rohana from the IRB, called the businesswoman and said there was a cheque for multi-million ringgit which was issued to Hendry John by a so-called ministry.

"In order to cash the cheque, the victim was told to pay the tax exemption, stamp duty and various other things which she did," he said in a statement here Saturday.

Saiman said the woman realised she had been cheated when the foreigner and the IRB officer continued to contact her to bank in the money.

The businesswoman lodged a police report on Aug 13.

Saiman urged the public to be more sensitive and cautious when interacting on the internet.