ALOR STAR: A retired teacher from Pendang, who fell in love with a "doctor from Syria", lost RM220,500 after she was duped by the scammer.
State Commercial Crime Investigations Department chief Superintendent Elias Omar said the victim befriended the scammer on Facebook in November last year.
"Her husband died in 2008. The victim met the suspect, who introduced himself as a doctor from Syria, on Facebook. They then started communicating via WhatsApp."
Elias said the man told the victim that he had some problems and sought financial help from the victim.
"Out of trust and extreme infatuation, the victim then transferred money to the suspect's seven accounts beginning December.
"Up to May, the victim had made 51 payment transactions to the accounts, totalling RM220,500."
Elias said the victim realised that she was scammed after the suspect kept on pestering for more cash.
He said the victim had subsequently lodged a police report in Pendang yesterday.
Police have classified the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Elias advised the public not to be easily duped by such love scam syndicates.
"Do not be easily misled by pleas from strangers on social media and do not simply transfer money to anyone that you befriended via social media platforms."
