Alor Gajah district police chief Supt Arshad Abu said the 59-year-old victim from Masjid Tanah befriended an Instagram user under the name of Ahmed Hashima, who claimed to live in the United States, in July this year.

       "The victim, who is unemployed, continued communicating with the suspect via WhatsApp. The man later told her he wanted to send her luxury gifts such as handbags, shoes, watches, a gold necklace, bracelet and US$15,000 in cash as a token of their friendship," he said in a statement on Friday (Nov 26).

       Arshad said on Aug 2, the woman was contacted by an someone claiming to be an agent of a courier company who asked her to make a payment before she could receive the gifts.

       He said the victim made several payments in stages totalling RM85,700 to four different bank accounts from August to October but did not receive the gifts.

       "The scammer was asking for more money from the victim and the woman suspected that she had been deceived. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code," he added. – Bernama