According to Alor Gajah District Police Chief, Superintendent Arshad Abu, the 59-year-old victim virtually met the suspect last July through Instagram who was using the name Ahmed Hashima and claimed he was from the United States.
The unemployed victim began communicating with the suspect using WhatsApp and was told by the man that she would be gifted luxury items in the form of handbags, shoes, wallets, designer watches, gold chains and bracelets as well as US$ 15,000 as a token of friendship.
"On August 2nd, the victim received a message through the WhatsApp application from the Kuala Lumpur Laju Post Office saying that the goods had arrived. However, because the goods required certain procedures, the victim was asked to make payment," Arshad said in a statement.
The victim then proceeded to make payments in stages involving four transactions to different bank accounts. "It is understood that the victim used her late husband's savings and made payments from August to October last year amounting to RM85,700, yet she still did not receive the items.
The victim finally lodged a police report after realizing that she had been deceived. The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
Source: Berita Harian
