SEREMBAN: A 26-year-old pre-school teacher who wanted to buy a Scottish fold cat online for RM900 ended up being scammed of almost RM70,000.

       State Commercial Crime Investigations Department chief Supt Aibee Ab Ghani said the victim came across an advertisement on Facebook on Oct 23 and decided to make the purchase.

       "The victim got in touch with the seller on a phone number she saw in the advertisement and was told that the cat was in Indonesia.

       "She was also told that she would only have to pay an upfront payment of RM450 and that the remaining sum can be paid after she gets the cat," he said.

       On the same day, the victim transferred RM450 to a bank account belonging to one "Tansiaupenga Siagian".

       After she had done so, the victim was told that the cat would be sent to her but she had to make other payments.

       The victim believed the scammer and transferred another RM32,080 via eight transactions to one account in a local bank within a few hours.

       The next day, she transferred another RM26,500 to the same account and RM10,000 to a second account.

       Supt Aibee said the victim finally realised she had been scammed and lodged a police report on Oct 26.

       "The victim also decided to lodge a report as she had sent the suspect a photograph of her identity card and her house address and is worried that these may be misused," he said.

       The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the penal Code for cheating.

       Offenders can be jailed between one and 10 years, whipped and fined upon conviction.