Elderly Kuching woman loses over RM1.2 mln in love scam
KUCHING (Aug 1): A 64-year-old woman lost RM1,213,742 in an online love scam that began late last year.
Acting Kuching district police chief Supt Merbin Lisa said the victim lodged a report on July 26, revealing she had been deceived over several months.
The scam began in December 2024, when she was contacted via WhatsApp by someone using the name 'Zhao Yong' and the number +852 5747 3477.
After building trust, the scammer introduced another individual posing as a lawyer named 'Hai Na Bai Chuan', who claimed to be handling a cash gift on Zhao's behalf.
A third accomplice, purportedly a bank manager named 'Kamarul Ranizu', was later introduced to facilitate the transaction.
'Trusting the scammer's elaborate promises, the woman borrowed money from relatives, sold her car, and secured loans from licensed moneylenders to make a series of payments.
'Between December 2024 and July this year, she made a total of 25 transactions across 18 different bank accounts, supposedly to cover taxes and other 'processing fees'.
'Eventually realising she had been deceived, the victim reported the matter to police, disclosing the total loss of RM1,213,742,' Merbin said in a statement.
He added that this case is among eight love scams recorded by Kuching district's Commercial Crime Investigation Division between Jan 1 and July 31 this year, with combined losses totalling RM1,326,050.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property, which carries a sentence of not less than one year and up to ten years in prison, whipping, and a possible fine upon conviction.
Merbin urged the public to remain vigilant when engaging with strangers online.
He also reminded that online scams are a form of commercial crime that can be avoided if individuals stay informed and cautious, fostering a safer and scam-free community. elderly woman Kuching love scam Merbin Lisa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 minutes ago
- The Sun
Court orders Caprice to remove defamatory Instagram posts about businessman
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has ordered rapper Caprice to immediately remove defamatory Instagram posts about businessman Datuk Seri Jeyenderan Ramasamy. Judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh granted an ad-interim injunction after Jeyenderan filed a lawsuit alleging that Caprice, whose real name is Ariz Ramli, had posted false claims linking him to criminal activities. The court also barred Caprice from making further defamatory statements pending a full hearing. Jeyenderan's legal team confirmed the ruling, while Caprice's lawyer acknowledged the order. The plaintiff, a shipping company CEO, claimed the posts damaged his reputation and caused financial losses. Jeyenderan stated that the posts, uploaded on July 10, falsely accused him of gangsterism and armed threats without evidence. He argued that Caprice, who has over 1.5 million Instagram followers, intended to harm his reputation. The defamatory content allegedly led to the cancellation of keynote speaking engagements in Dubai, Turkey, and India, costing him RM1 million in lost contracts. A letter of demand was issued on July 15, but Caprice rejected the terms through his lawyers. Jeyenderan is now seeking RM3 million in damages for reputational harm, alongside an injunction to prevent further defamation and a public apology. - Bernama
Daily Express
4 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Sabah Moto Day 8.0 to rally 60,000 with anti-drug message
Published on: Tuesday, August 05, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 05, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Mazlan (second left) and Rudhi pose with the event's official jersey. - Jonathan Nicholas/The Daily Express Malaysia KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Moto Day (SMD) 8.0 will take place on August 16–17 at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), aiming to draw 60,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak, and Labuan. Organised by Kelab Dua Roda Bersatu with the Anti-Drug Squad, the event promotes youth unity, anti-drug awareness, and road safety. Squad Chairman Datuk Mazlan Joehari Manan said the gathering is about more than bikes, it's a platform for change, open to all, bikers or not. With 13,000 current members, the squad aims to grow to 100,000. Highlights include anti-drug talks, a testimony by ex-addict-turned-entrepreneur 'Boss Gary,' a charity convoy to a Tuaran orphanage, and lucky draws with motorcycle prizes. Safety has been strengthened with support from police, UMS, and RELA, re-routing traffic away from residential areas. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is expected to officiate on August 17. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
34 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Court orders Caprice to remove defamatory Instagram posts about businessman
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today ordered rapper Caprice to immediately remove all defamatory posts about a businessman from his Instagram account, which were uploaded last month. Judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh made the ruling after allowing an ad-interim injunction sought by Datuk Seri Jeyenderan Ramasamy, 50, against Caprice, whose real name is Ariz Ramli, 39, as the sole defendant. The court also restrained Caprice from making further defamatory statements about the plaintiff pending the hearing of the inter partes injunction. The order was confirmed by Jeyenderan's lawyers, Muniandy Vestanathan, Fiona Aurelia Culas and Muhammad Afiq Yahawa, as well as Caprice's counsel, Megat Syazlee Mokhtarom, when contacted by Bernama. Jeyenderan, the chief executive officer of a shipping company, filed the suit on July 21, claiming that on July 10, the defendant had uploaded several posts, including photographs and videos of him, on Instagram, allegedly linking him to criminal activities, gangsterism and armed threats, without any credible evidence. Based on his statement of claim, the plaintiff asserted that the defamatory posts were intended to create suspicion, public hatred and social pressure against him, and that the defendant had never contacted him or his representatives to seek verification or clarification before publishing such serious allegations. He contended that the defendant's actions clearly demonstrated no intent to provide fair and accurate information, but rather to tarnish his name and reputation, noting that the defendant commands significant influence on Instagram with over 1.5 million followers. As a result of the publications, Jeyenderan alleged that his reputation as a global shipping and maritime expert had been damaged, and claimed he suffered special damages amounting to RM1 million after losing several keynote speaking contracts in Dubai, Turkey and India, offered by a Dubai-based company. On July 15, his solicitors issued a letter of demand to the defendant outlining several demands, which the defendant subsequently rejected through Messrs Megat Iqbal & Co. The plaintiff is seeking RM3 million in damages for reputational harm, special damages, general damages and exemplary damages, along with costs and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. He is also applying for an injunction to prevent the defendant from making further defamatory statements, to compel the removal of all defamatory content, and to require a public apology across all social media accounts owned or controlled by the defendant.
