A 67-year-old woman from Kuala Lumpur has fallen victim to an extensive online love scam, losing over RM2.2 million (about Rs 4.4 crore) over the course of nearly ten years, all while never meeting the scammer in person. This case highlights the dangers of online dating and the lengths to which fraudsters will go to exploit vulnerable individuals.
The scam began in October 2017 when the woman met the scammer on Facebook. He claimed to be an American businessman involved in medical equipment procurement in Singapore. After a month of communication, they developed an online relationship. The scammer shared his financial struggles, particularly with transportation costs, and the woman, sympathetic to his situation, sent her first payment of RM5,000 (approximately Rs 1 lakh).
Over the next four years, the woman transferred money 306 times to 50 different accounts, all at the scammer’s request, which included various fabricated personal and business crises. Despite continuous communication, the woman never met the scammer face-to-face or via video calls. Their interactions remained limited to voice calls only.
The woman only realized she had been deceived in November 2024, after confiding in a friend. Authorities caution people to be wary of online relationships, especially those involving requests for money. It is crucial to verify identities and avoid rushing into relationships that seem too good to be true.