PORT DICKSON: Yet another person has fallen prey to a parcel scam, losing RM400,000 made up mostly of his savings.
The 78-year-old widower’s troubles started after he came to know a woman claiming to be an American on Facebook on June 20, said state Commercial Crime Investigations Department chief Supt Aibee Ab Ghani.
She identified herself as “Velostin Tina” and told the man that she wanted to send a parcel containing US$1.5mil (RM6mil) to Malaysia through him.
“She told the victim if he was agreeable, she would give him 30% of the cash once she arrived here,” he said.
Supt Aibee said after some time, the man received a message on WhatsApp from Velostin Tina, telling him that the parcel has reached the Customs Department at the KL International Airport.
The man was told that he would have to make some payments for tax and duties to get it.
“He was asked to make the payments into several bank accounts,” he said, adding that the victim then deposited RM400,000 into those accounts.
Apart from his own savings, he also used his credit card to get the cash, besides borrowing from relatives and friends.
Supt Aibee said the victim found no sign of the parcel despite settling all payments.
He was later told by the woman that she had arrived in Malaysia but could not meet him as she had to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
“After a few days, she told the victim that she had tested positive for Covid-19 and would only be able to meet him after getting medical treatment,” Supt Aibee said.
“However, after she was apparently ‘treated’, she told him that the Customs Department had also detained her along with the parcel and she needed his help to pay another RM479,250 to be released.”
The man, who had only communicated with the suspect via social media and never once had a conversation with her, finally realised that he had been scammed.
He lodged a police report.
The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.