Housewife, lecturer among victims of ‘African scam’

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Ramli (second left) checking the air rifle that was seized in a raid at a flat at Bukit Beruang in Melaka. — Bernama photo

Ramli (second left) checking the air rifle that was seized in a raid at a flat at Bukit Beruang in Melaka. — Bernama photo

MELAKA: Melaka recorded 78 cases of ‘African Scam’ or ‘Love Scam’ between January and July this year, leaving its victims poorer by more than RM2 million.

State police chief Datuk Ramli Din said 50 cases were recorded in the same period last year.

He said the latest cases involved a housewife aged 43, who lost more than RM721,000 on Aug 11 and a college lecturer also aged 43, who lost RM402,000 on Aug 12.

“We advise women to be more wary when befriending men through Facebook and not to act impulsively in giving them money,” he told a press conference at the Melaka police contingent headquarters in Bukit Beruang here, yesterday.

According to him, the syndicate is believed to originate from Africa, and initial investigations found that the culprits used bank accounts of their victims to lure potential prey.

Ramli said in the case involving the housewife, the syndicate member had introduced himself as a businessman facing financial difficulties and urged her to invest in his business. In the case of the college lecturer, the fraudster introduced himself as a foreigner and sweet talked the victim into believing that he was going to lavish her with expensive gifts.

“The syndicate’s modus operandi is to befriend victims through Facebook and their target is lonely women even though the latter may already be married but who are easily swayed by flattery,” he said.

Meanwhile, 189 people were roped in by police under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 between January and August, compared to 150 last year.

The number of arrests under Section 39A(2) of the same Act also increased from 50 to 80, while 39 people were detained under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act this year, compared to 16 last year.

Ramli said the latest arrest involved five individuals including a civil servant at a condominium at Bukit Beruang on Tuesday night.

“Police also seized 75.6gm of heroin and 2.22gm of syabu worth a total of RM3,000, an air rifle and 180 lead bullets in a raid around 8pm,” he said.

The suspects who had been under surveillance by police acting on a tip-off, comprised three men and two women aged between 18 and 51. — Bernama