Two women fall prey to internet fraud

A woman could only sigh in frustration after she lost the RM500 she deposited for a Perodua Kancil car advertised on a popular web shopping site in the country.

Jempol District Police chief Supt Noorzainy Mohd Noor said the woman, 21, who worked as a clinic assistant here, only realised she had been duped when she failed to contact the advertiser after she paid up the money.

"The car which was advertised was priced at RM4,588 on the website. The woman contacted the advertiser who asked her the RM500 as booking fee into a bank account.

"After she deposited the RM500 into the bank account, she tried to contact the advertiser but failed," he told reporters here today.

The victim who lived in Felda Pasoh 4, Simpang Pertang near here later lodged a police report at the Jempol District Police Headquarters, he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, Noorzainy said another woman was also tricked in a scam involving 10 units of smartphones by an acquaintance she met on the social application 'Wechat'.

He said the victim who lived in Kampung Batu Bakar, Bahau, near here lost RM6,600.

"The suspect claimed to be a distributor of Apple iPhones. The victim then made eight payments into a bank account as requested by the suspect.

"After she paid the money, the suspect blocked her 'Wechat' account and could no longer be contacted," he said.

Both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years, a fine and whipping, if found guilty. -- Bernama