Published: Tuesday August 6, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday August 6, 2013 MYT 7:17:42 AM
Woman conned of RM200,000 by ‘business partner’
BY NELSON BENJAMIN
[email protected]
JOHOR BARU: A 36-year-old woman, who befriended a so-called “Cana*dian businesswoman” on Facebook, has been duped of at least RM200,000 in a bogus business deal purportedly given out by the Malaysian Govern*ment.
The victim, who only wanted to be known as Jesicca, said she raised the money by selling her two houses, used up her savings, pawned her jewellery and even borrowed from friends and relatives.
“After taking my money, the woman and her friends kept on harassing me for another eight months until I finally lodged a police report recently.
“This whole episode has been a nightmare for me,” she said, adding that she was a wage earner working in a company.
She said she befriended the “Canadian businesswoman” through a Facebook chat room in February last year.
“After several months, the woman asked me to be her Malaysian partner as her company was awarded a US$3.3mil (RM9.9mil) contract by the Malaysian Government to construct quarters for Works Ministry staff in Labuan,” she said.
“I was not interested but then another woman, claiming to be a Malaysian lawyer, contacted me and said the deal was legitimate and my Canadian friend wanted me to be her local partner,” she said, adding that they even e-mailed her the do*cuments and contacts to convince her.
Jesicca said that after much persuasion, she agreed but got a shock later when her friend started pressing for money for legal fees and also security deposit for the project.
“I do not know what happened to me but I banked in between RM3,000 and RM38,000 in several months,” she said, adding that she realised something was amiss when the Canadian kept giving her excuses.
Despite taking RM200,000 from her, Jessica said the woman did not leave her alone but constantly called and texted her, seeking more payments.
Jesicca said her relationships with her husband, relatives and friends suffered as a result of this incident.
“Through meditation and support from my family, especially my two young children, I survived.
“Now I hope the police will be able to arrest those responsible and I also hope to get my money back,” she said.
Kulaijaya OCPD Supt Zulkefly Yahya confirmed police were investigating the woman’s case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
