Friday, Aug 31, 2012
A WIDOW who fell for the charms of a foreigner, who claimed to work with the United Nations, lost RM233,000 (S$93,700), becoming the latest victim of an Internet scam that poach on lonely women.
The 56-year-old victim from Malacca was so taken in by the so-called Dr Michael Clinton from Switzerland that she took out her money to help fund his non-existent clinic, reported Harian Metro.
Little did she know that the "doctor" she was helping was a Nigerian conman.
The woman, a secretary at a private firm, befriended the man through a social website in May, when he portrayed himself as a white male working for the UN.
State commercial crime chief Supt Soh Hock Sing said the suspect convinced the victim of his status by pledging to remit US$380,000 (S$477,000) to her for safekeeping.
After a while, he claimed to have sent the money to Kuching and required the victim to make a few initial payments for service and government taxes.
"Falling for his lies, the victim made five transactions to transfer RM233,000 from her account," Supt Soh said.
He said after making the payment, the victim from the Portuguese Settlement, was instructed by the bogus Dr Clinton' to meet a Nigerian man.
On meeting the alleged "contact person", the victim was told she would receive a box that allegedly contained the US$380,000 as promised.
However, before handing over the box to the victim, the man brought out a bottle and poured its contents to purportedly "wash" the money.
He used the chemical on four pieces of paper alleged to be US$100 banknotes and used a hair dryer on them.
He then told the victim the remaining amount would have to be claimed at the US embassy and that the victim had to fork out another RM10,000 to get the rest of the money.
When it dawned on her that she had been conned, the woman lodged a police report, leading to the arrest of three Nigerians, including a college student and a 23-year-old local woman.
A WIDOW who fell for the charms of a foreigner, who claimed to work with the United Nations, lost RM233,000 (S$93,700), becoming the latest victim of an Internet scam that poach on lonely women.
The 56-year-old victim from Malacca was so taken in by the so-called Dr Michael Clinton from Switzerland that she took out her money to help fund his non-existent clinic, reported Harian Metro.
Little did she know that the "doctor" she was helping was a Nigerian conman.
The woman, a secretary at a private firm, befriended the man through a social website in May, when he portrayed himself as a white male working for the UN.
State commercial crime chief Supt Soh Hock Sing said the suspect convinced the victim of his status by pledging to remit US$380,000 (S$477,000) to her for safekeeping.
After a while, he claimed to have sent the money to Kuching and required the victim to make a few initial payments for service and government taxes.
"Falling for his lies, the victim made five transactions to transfer RM233,000 from her account," Supt Soh said.
He said after making the payment, the victim from the Portuguese Settlement, was instructed by the bogus Dr Clinton' to meet a Nigerian man.
On meeting the alleged "contact person", the victim was told she would receive a box that allegedly contained the US$380,000 as promised.
However, before handing over the box to the victim, the man brought out a bottle and poured its contents to purportedly "wash" the money.
He used the chemical on four pieces of paper alleged to be US$100 banknotes and used a hair dryer on them.
He then told the victim the remaining amount would have to be claimed at the US embassy and that the victim had to fork out another RM10,000 to get the rest of the money.
When it dawned on her that she had been conned, the woman lodged a police report, leading to the arrest of three Nigerians, including a college student and a 23-year-old local woman.
