An elderly gentleman in Singapore found himself in a dire situation as he lost his life savings totalling $70,000 (RM240,638.47) after innocently downloading an app to order roast duck online.
The 74-year-old victim, who wishes to be known as Loh, recounted his unfortunate experience. Initially, he was prompted to make a seemingly harmless $5 (RM17.19) deposit, only to later discover that the funds in his savings account had vanished without a trace.
Loh suspects that a cunning scammer exploited his bank account using an Android Package Kit (APK).
He explained, "I stumbled upon an advertisement for a roast duck vendor called Xiao Xiao Ya Zi on Facebook, enticing me with Chinese delicacies. They offered 1.5 kilograms of Peking duck for a mere $23.80 (RM81.82)."
Loh continued by saying that upon contacting the seller through WhatsApp, he was directed to install a third-party app called 'Grab & Go' on his mobile device. Shortly after making the transaction, his phone began to vibrate uncontrollably and became inaccessible.
Expressing deep regret, he lamented, "The money represents ten years of my hard-earned savings. I thought I was cautious and can't be easily fooled." He blamed himself for falling prey to the allure of the inexpensive roast duck offer, especially since it happened to be his grandson's favourite dish.
According to reports, the police have received the victim's complaint and initiated an investigation into the case.
