Nurse loses RM4,200 in bid to help ‘American’ friend

0

MIRI: A nurse lost RM4,200 in a parcel scam after agreeing to help an ‘American’ whom she had befriended on social media.

Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said the 27-year-old became acquainted on Instagram with someone named ‘Jackson’, who claimed to be from the United States of America.

He said on Dec 9, Jackson contacted the nurse through WhatsApp saying Customs officers in Kuala Lumpur had seized a sum of USD20,000 belonging to him.

“Jackson claimed his friend ‘Michael’ was helping him carry the money, but that the cash had been seized. He told the nurse he needed her help to secure the release of his money.

“She initially refused but was convinced to transfer a sum of RM4,200 to an account provided by Jackson, purportedly as a fee to release the cash. Only after making the transfer did the nurse realise she had been deceived,” Mustafa Kamal said in a statement yesterday.

The Sarawak CCID chief also stated that three other individuals here received similar scam phone calls between Dec 9 and 12, but did not fall victim.

“All three were accused of being involved in criminal cases, but did not fall victims as they had kept their wits about them. Even though they did not suffer any losses, the three each lodged a police report as a precaution,” he said.