KUCHING: Different people have their own love stories to tell.
For example how couples meet each other. It is either they meet their significant other through mutual friends and families, at college or workplace, or on online dating websites or mobile apps.
As Valentine’s Day draws near, married couples and dating couples are busy looking up for ideas and thinking of what to buy for their loved ones to celebrate the special day.
For couples who have been dating online and have yet to meet their ‘soulmate’ physically, it is more important not to fall for romance scams on the Day of Love.
In this case, Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) chairman Datuk John Lau Pang Heng has urged lovers to take extra precautions and not to be victims of love scams as such incidents are still happening lately.
“We often read the news that someone involved in a love scam had lost about RM200,000 to RM300,000, even millions.
“It must be remembered that love scammers mainly target lonely men and women who are either single or separated from their spouse.
“The scammers know their victims’ needs and use sweet words, to lure the victims to transfer money to them (scammers),” he said.
Lau said the actual number of victims being scammed in the love scam is not known as many did not report to the authorities. However it is believed that the actual number of love scams may be three times more than what have been reported.
“On Feb, 4, this year a doctor lost RM94,000 in a love scam after getting acquainted with a foreign man through social media in Kuala Lumpur. Within two weeks of getting to know each other on social media, the victim was asked to make an online transaction for the purchase of goods through a website.
“The victim then clicked on the link given by the suspect where she was asked to provide her personal information and made several transactions using her personal account.
“Meanwhile, in 2021, a 22-year-old lady in Miri was scammed RM200,000. The suspect claimed to be a doctor working in a British Hospital. The man, called Mason Darrison Davis, who was the suspect made a marriage proposal to the victim and said he would move to Malaysia. He promised to send her GBP 155,000 (RM877,350) through a ‘Syarikat Transfast’.
“A woman claimed to be an agent from the company had asked the victim to make payment of RM200,000 for the release of the money of which the suspect had sent.
“These are all love scams and more people should be aware of it,” he said.
Lau reminded that love scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust.
“The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and or steal from the victim.
“The criminals who carried out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable,” he said, while adding that con artists are present on most dating and social media sites.
He added the scammer’s intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear himself to the victim, and gain trust.
“Scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money.
“Scam artists often say they are in the building and construction industry and are engaged in projects outside of their home country.
“This makes it easier to avoid meeting in person and more plausible when they ask for money for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fee,” he said.
On the signs to watch out for, Lau said if someone they meet online needs their bank account information to deposit money, they are most likely using the victims’ account to carry out other theft and fraud schemes.
Lau also shared the ways on how one can avoid romance scams.
Here are the tips as follow:
- Be careful what you post and make it public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
- Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
- Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
- Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
- Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
- Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse because he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
- Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
“We, therefore, urge everyone to be triple careful during 2023 Valentine’s time and not to fall into a love scam trap.
“There is nothing free in this world and no one will transfer money to you without a purpose,” said Lau.
Meanwhile, should anyone encounter any love scams or financial scams, the public are urged to contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 immediately.
For further inquiries or advice, the public can contact the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-26101559 or 03-26101599, or follow the Facebook pages of @CyberCrimeAlertRMP and @JSJKPDRM.
