Love scammers break your heart and steal your money
Step 1: Steal photos from other Facebook members and set up a fake Facebook account.
Step 2: Search Facebook to find their victims - mainly single women, widows, and divorcees in the hope that they would make big bucks out of them. Sometimes, even married women and senior citizens are not spared.
Step 3: After finding their victims, they would try to seduce them with sweet talks and false promises of a blissful marriage life knowing very well what women like to hear.
Step 4: Once they have gained their victims' trust, this is when they start asking for money. Some would create a heart wrenching story whilst others would pretend to send their victims some kind of luxurious present which requires these poor women to make payments into certain bank accounts before the "luxurious present" could reach them.
Step 5: Once the Facebook Casanovas got what they want, they would disappear leaving their victims much poorer than before and with a broken heart. The odds of recovering the money are very low and they would have to struggle to survive this 'double tragedy'.
Women, irrespective of whether they are married or not, are looking for great love. One of my friends, a mother of three who was having problems with her husband, has also been targeted by a Facebook Casanova. Her whole world seemed to have brightened up during his courting phase as she thought that her Mr. Right has finally appeared and it did not matter whether her husband still cared for her. She told me that her Facebook Casanova called her every single day (7-8 times per day) because he wanted to listen to her sweet voice and when he didn't get to talk to her for just one day, he was really sad and scolded her for not talking to him saying that he missed her very much. He also showered her with lots of praises and sweet love messages. Sounds really romantic, doesn't he? Finally, their courting phase developed into the "money transfer phase" when he said that he would send her a watch, money, and jewelry. My friend was really delighted but when she received a call from a woman telling her to pay RM1000 for the postage charged by the Malaysian Government before the parcel could be delivered to her, she was very disappointed. Not that she did not want the presents but she has always been extremely frugal with her expenditures and whenever it comes to parting with her money, she would think of her children first. Guess what she said to her Facebook Casanova when he asked her to pay up? She said, "If I don't have to pay a single sen, then I would love to have the presents but since I have to pay so much for it, I had rather not have them. If you can afford to give me those expensive presents, why can't you pay for the postage as well? You can take back your presents." She became immediately suspicious of the situation - it was at that instant that she began to realize that her "Facebook lover" might be trying to con her and broke up with him immediately. But others may not be as lucky as her and ended up parting with their life savings and being heavily in debt as clearly indicated in the following cases.
Case 1: Woman loses RM1.6 million in 'love scam'
A 62-year-old Shah Alam transport company manager lost RM1.6 million after falling victim to a love scam syndicate led by Africans. The woman claimed that she had a close relationship with a man who claimed to be an American via Facebook. Over the course of six months, the man claimed to have suffered losses in his business endeavors and asked the woman to help him by transferring funds into several accounts. He later told her that his friend ‘Calvin’ had been arrested by the Malaysian Customs officials with a large sum of money intended for her and asked the woman to make payments to the Customs so that his friend and the seized money can be released (click here to read the full story dated 22 April 2019).
Case 2: Clerk loses RM128,300 in Facebook love scam
In May 2018, a clerk in Kuantan lost RM128,300 in a Facebook love scam. The 20-year-old woman got acquainted with a man, purportedly from the United States, via Facebook in April 2018. The man wanted to give her presents such as dresses, shoes, handbags, white gold, perfume, an iPad, an iPhone, a bracelet, a wristwatch, gold jewellery and foreign currency of US$28,000 (RM111,860) which were supposedly sent to her on 8 May 2018. On 11 May 2018, the woman received a call from a 'Customs official' who asked her to pay a tax of RM4,800 for the 'presents'. After having made the first payment, the woman was required to make two more payments of RM18,500 and RM49,000, purportedly for charges on the foreign currency and jewellery. On 14 May 2018, the woman received another call from the man asking for RM125,000 as delivery charges for the 'presents'. After the woman made more than 10 payments involving a total of RM128,300, the man further asked her to deposit a certain amount of money into his account. The woman suspected that she had been scammed and lodged a police report (click here to read the full story dated 14 June 2018).
Case 3: Clerk loses RM13,300 in social media platform love scam
A 33-year-old clerk in Sibu who claimed to have lost RM13,300 in a Facebook love scam lodged a police report on 21 June 2019. She met a man known as James Hong via Facebook on 13 June 2019. On 15 June 2019, Hong sent her a message that he would deliver a big package to her as a gift. On 18 June 2019, she received a message from Hong telling her that he has been arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport because of the size of the package. Hong asked her to pay the RM4,300 import duty so that he could be released. She made two payments of RM1,000 and RM1,800 into an account purportedly under the name ‘Noorhamiza Hamadi’. On 19 June 2019, the woman received another message from Hong, telling her the package contained US$20,000 and she had to make a payment of RM10,500 to the `United Nations Anti-Terrorist Department’ before the fund could be released. She made the payment into the same account. However, she felt suspicious when Hong continued to ask her for more money (click here to read the full story dated 22 June 2019).
Case 4: Woman loses RM41,400 to FB lover
In November 2018, a businesswoman in Kuantan lost RM41,400 after she was conned by a man she met on Facebook. The man, who claimed to be a doctor working in Syria, identified himself as Haruna Mohammed, 57. He told the woman that he would be returning to Malaysia to retire and asked her to keep his pension amounting to USD50,000 which would be sent to her by post. Some time later, the woman received a call from a courier company asking her to make payments for various processes before the pension money could be delivered to her. The woman transferred the money which amounted to RM41,400 in 10 transactions into three accounts from 11 - 22 February 2019. When she did not receive the pension money supposedly sent to her, she became suspicious and lodged a report (click here to read the full story dated 6 March 2019).
Case 5: Penangite transfers RM280k to online stranger; realises she was conned after 9th payment
A 56-year-old housewife from Balik Pulau lost RM280,000 to a Love Scam syndicate when she transferred the money in stages between October 2018 and 17 January 2019. In August 2018, the woman met a man on Facebook who identified himself as Edin Teyul from London. Their relationship flourished and it did not take long before they contacted each other via WhatsApp. The man told her that he was going to Singapore for a business meeting. On his way there, he claimed that he had been detained by Immigration officials for bringing in cash and gold bars beyond the permissible limits and had to borrow US$3,000 from the victim to solve his problem. On 11 Oct 2018, the victim transferred RM3,000 into the AmBank account provided by the suspect, supposedly for the preparation of new documents for Edin Teyul. On 1 Nov 2018, the victim transferred another RM130,000 to the same account, as two per cent payment to Immigration officials in Miri, for the amount of cash and gold bars that the man brought with him. The man kept asking for more money and the victim transferred RM4,000, RM6,000 and RM10,000 into the same account on three separate occasions. On Monday (14/1/2019), the victim transferred RM42,000, on Tuesday (15/1/2019), RM30,000, and the last payment was RM55,000 (17/1/2019). When the man continued to ask for more money after she had transferred RM280,000 to him, the victim became suspicious and lodged a police report (click here to read the full story dated 18 January 2019).
A 33-year-old clerk in Sibu who claimed to have lost RM13,300 in a Facebook love scam lodged a police report on 21 June 2019. She met a man known as James Hong via Facebook on 13 June 2019. On 15 June 2019, Hong sent her a message that he would deliver a big package to her as a gift. On 18 June 2019, she received a message from Hong telling her that he has been arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport because of the size of the package. Hong asked her to pay the RM4,300 import duty so that he could be released. She made two payments of RM1,000 and RM1,800 into an account purportedly under the name ‘Noorhamiza Hamadi’. On 19 June 2019, the woman received another message from Hong, telling her the package contained US$20,000 and she had to make a payment of RM10,500 to the `United Nations Anti-Terrorist Department’ before the fund could be released. She made the payment into the same account. However, she felt suspicious when Hong continued to ask her for more money (click here to read the full story dated 22 June 2019).
Case 4: Woman loses RM41,400 to FB lover
In November 2018, a businesswoman in Kuantan lost RM41,400 after she was conned by a man she met on Facebook. The man, who claimed to be a doctor working in Syria, identified himself as Haruna Mohammed, 57. He told the woman that he would be returning to Malaysia to retire and asked her to keep his pension amounting to USD50,000 which would be sent to her by post. Some time later, the woman received a call from a courier company asking her to make payments for various processes before the pension money could be delivered to her. The woman transferred the money which amounted to RM41,400 in 10 transactions into three accounts from 11 - 22 February 2019. When she did not receive the pension money supposedly sent to her, she became suspicious and lodged a report (click here to read the full story dated 6 March 2019).
Case 5: Penangite transfers RM280k to online stranger; realises she was conned after 9th payment
A 56-year-old housewife from Balik Pulau lost RM280,000 to a Love Scam syndicate when she transferred the money in stages between October 2018 and 17 January 2019. In August 2018, the woman met a man on Facebook who identified himself as Edin Teyul from London. Their relationship flourished and it did not take long before they contacted each other via WhatsApp. The man told her that he was going to Singapore for a business meeting. On his way there, he claimed that he had been detained by Immigration officials for bringing in cash and gold bars beyond the permissible limits and had to borrow US$3,000 from the victim to solve his problem. On 11 Oct 2018, the victim transferred RM3,000 into the AmBank account provided by the suspect, supposedly for the preparation of new documents for Edin Teyul. On 1 Nov 2018, the victim transferred another RM130,000 to the same account, as two per cent payment to Immigration officials in Miri, for the amount of cash and gold bars that the man brought with him. The man kept asking for more money and the victim transferred RM4,000, RM6,000 and RM10,000 into the same account on three separate occasions. On Monday (14/1/2019), the victim transferred RM42,000, on Tuesday (15/1/2019), RM30,000, and the last payment was RM55,000 (17/1/2019). When the man continued to ask for more money after she had transferred RM280,000 to him, the victim became suspicious and lodged a police report (click here to read the full story dated 18 January 2019).
Case 6 - Woman scammed of RM53,600 after helping detained online 'friend'
A 25-year-old female auditor in Sibu lost RM53,600 in a scam after she was cheated by her online friend. On 11 Feb 2019, the victim met a man who identified himself as Fred Hutton on Facebook. One month later, the man told her that he wanted to meet her and her family. However, she was not keen to meet him as they were merely friends. On 11 Mac 2019, the victim received a phone call from a woman named 'Lenni' who claimed to be a KLIA customs officer. Lenni told the victim that Fred had been detained in the airport for bringing in £25,000 (RM135,000) and jewellery. Fearing that action would be taken against Fred, the victim transferred US$6,000 (RM24,300) into an account given by Lenni in four transactions. The next day, Lenni called the victim again saying that more money was needed for the release of Fred. The vivtim then made a further transfer of US$7,250 (RM29,300). When she received another call from Lenni asking for more money saying that Fred had been beaten up and was injured, she had no more money to send and grew suspicious (click here to read the full story dated 14 March 2019).
A 25-year-old female auditor in Sibu lost RM53,600 in a scam after she was cheated by her online friend. On 11 Feb 2019, the victim met a man who identified himself as Fred Hutton on Facebook. One month later, the man told her that he wanted to meet her and her family. However, she was not keen to meet him as they were merely friends. On 11 Mac 2019, the victim received a phone call from a woman named 'Lenni' who claimed to be a KLIA customs officer. Lenni told the victim that Fred had been detained in the airport for bringing in £25,000 (RM135,000) and jewellery. Fearing that action would be taken against Fred, the victim transferred US$6,000 (RM24,300) into an account given by Lenni in four transactions. The next day, Lenni called the victim again saying that more money was needed for the release of Fred. The vivtim then made a further transfer of US$7,250 (RM29,300). When she received another call from Lenni asking for more money saying that Fred had been beaten up and was injured, she had no more money to send and grew suspicious (click here to read the full story dated 14 March 2019).
Case 7: Labuan woman loses RM376,100 to online 'lover'
A 39-year-old academician in Labuan lost her life savings of RM376,100 to her Facebook "lover" whom she had only known for a month. The man who claimed to be a pilot from Canada offered to give her USD500, perfume, jewelries and other luxury items. Some time later, he called her telling her that the gifts had arrived but were being held by the Malaysian Royal Customs Department because of the undeclared USD500 currency and jewelries. The man told his victim that she had to settle the customs' duties by transferring money into several different accounts before she could claim the money and the luxury items. After making all the payments, the man threatened his victim not to disclose the matter to anyone, or she would be arrested for her involvement in money laundering (Click here to read the full story dated 1 Nov 2018).
Case 8: Banker duped out of 12,580 in African scam
A 31-year-old bank officer in Kepala Batas claimed she lost RM12,580 to a man she met on Facebook in an African scam. The victim befriended the man who claimed to be a Malaysian citizen working as a pilot in Poland in early September 2019. He then told her that he has sent her a valuable gift through a courier service. The next day, the victim received a phone call from a person who claimed to be a courier service agent telling her that the gift had arrived and that she had to make payments for shipping and other fees for the item to be delivered. The victim transferred RM12,850 into a bank account given by the courier agent through several transactions from Sept 19 to Sept 23 (click here to read the full story dated 25 Sept 2019).
A 31-year-old bank officer in Kepala Batas claimed she lost RM12,580 to a man she met on Facebook in an African scam. The victim befriended the man who claimed to be a Malaysian citizen working as a pilot in Poland in early September 2019. He then told her that he has sent her a valuable gift through a courier service. The next day, the victim received a phone call from a person who claimed to be a courier service agent telling her that the gift had arrived and that she had to make payments for shipping and other fees for the item to be delivered. The victim transferred RM12,850 into a bank account given by the courier agent through several transactions from Sept 19 to Sept 23 (click here to read the full story dated 25 Sept 2019).
Case 9: Woman conned by online 'boyfriends'
A businesswoman in her 50s ended up being conned of RM800,000 within a month by her two online boyfriends. The single woman from Johor Bahru befriended the men via Facebook who claimed to be from overseas. The men began professing their love for her within a month after she got to know them. One of them promised to give her US$1mil (RM4mil). The other one said that he would be sending her gifts. The victim then started getting calls supposedly from courier companies requesting her to make payments for licences, taxes and immigration clearance. Throughout that month, the victim transferred money to about 12 individual accounts, banking in amounts ranging from RM3,000 to more than RM100,000, in the belief that she could get hold of the money and gifts sent by her Facebook lovers. The victim only realised that she had been conned after requests came in for a larger amount of money. She also started getting threats when she failed to make the payments (click here to read the full story dated 9 October 2019).
Case 10: Jobless Johor woman loses RM380k in love scam
A 50-year-old unemployed woman lost RM380,000 over a one year period after befriending a man who claimed to live in the United States. The victim said she befriended the man, who identified himself as Kenneth Cheung, on Facebook in October 2018. Several weeks later, Kenneth told her that he wanted to send her gifts in the form of jewellery, watches, lingerie and handphones worth RM800 million. The victim was then contacted by a man claiming to be a customs officer who told her that the items had been confiscated and Kenneth had been arrested by the Immigration Department. The "customs officer" also said that she had to make a series of payments if she wanted to release the items and free Kenneth. In December 2018, the victim lodged a police report because she did not get the items after having made the payments. However, the victim still believed that Kenneth did not lie to her and that it was the “customs officer” who cheated her as he continued to demand payments from her. Over a one year period, the victim transferred RM380,000 into numerous bank accounts as demanded by the "customs officer". She even sold her house in Masai for RM230,000 and borrowed money from her family members to make the payments (please click here to read the full story dated 10 December 2019).
The above cases happened recently in Malaysia (from June 2018 to December 2019) and are just several examples of how easily women can be conned by their Facebook lovers despite the fact that the same tactics has been used over and over again throughout the years by the Facebook romance scammers. Perhaps they should follow my friend's example (above) and say "If I don't have to pay a single sen, then I would love to have the presents but since I have to pay so much for it, I had rather not have it. If you can afford to give me those expensive presents, why can't you pay for the postage as well? You can take back your presents." Can you imagine how these Facebook scammers would feel if you ask them to take back their presents? Instead of being scammed and ended up with a broken heart, why not pretend to be in love with these romance scammers and tell them to take back their presents when they start to ask for payments? It's really going to be fun! At the same time, you can also lodge a police report to save other women from falling into their trap (You may also like to read LOVE SCAMS: DEALING WITH PAIN AND ANGER and Is Marriage Really Necessary and Important in Today's World?).
To view the contents page of this blog, please click here. For further reading, you can refer to Jan Marshall's Romance Scam Survivor: The Whole Sordid Story. Why would you give money to someone you've never met? You can find the answer in this book.
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