Vietnamese national cheated of more than RM200k over fake Covid-19 aid scheme on FB

GEORGE TOWN: A 58-year-old woman has been cheated of more than RM200,000 over a non-existent Covid-19 relief fund last year.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Soffian Santong said the victim claimed that she was duped after applying for a purported Covid-19 household living aid via Facebook.

"According to the victim, in August last year, she received a message via Facebook messenger from her Facebook friends who told her that there is a scheme that gives out US$100,000 to eligible Covid-19 victims," he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 8).

ACP Soffian said the victim - a Vietnamese national with Malaysia permanent resident status - then browsed the Facebook page on Aug 17,2020.

He said at 10.34pm, she sent a message to the Facebook page with the intention to apply for the fund.

ACP Soffian said the reason the victim wanted to apply for the fund was because she wanted to use the money to buy a house and for daily expenses for her disabled husband.

"The victim then got in contact with a suspect who asked her to fill up a form for the purported scheme. She duly gave her personal details such as her identification card and her bank account details," he said.

ACP Soffian said the victim was asked by the suspect to make a RM8,000 payment for processing fees for the application and insurance under the purported scheme.

He added the victim made 12 transactions amounting to RM210,600 into five different bank accounts between Aug 18 and Nov 17 last year.

He said the victim realised she was cheated after the suspect could not be contacted after she made the payments.

ACP Soffian said investigations found that all bank accounts which had been provided by the suspect were linked to five cheating cases in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Sarawak and Perak.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

Haih...if she got so much money why still need to borrow in the 1st place?