KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian "Datuk" has allegedly fleeced a hairstylist from Singapore of her life-savings after seeking her help to resolve his financial problems.
The victim, who wished to be known as Yong, said she was first introduced to the "Datuk" by a friend in March and they subsequently met at a casino in Genting.
He introduced himself as an owner of several money exchange outlets and has several properties around the city.
During their conversation, she gave SG$7,000 in exchange for RM40,000 which he gave in the form of a cheque.
When she wanted to deposit the cheque, he advised her not to do so as his account was frozen due to an income tax issue which he is in the midst of resolving.
Her ordeal started in April when the Datuk asked for more money to solve his financial problems including his mother's funeral expenses, daughter's medical bill and business woes.
"Out of sympathy, I transferred RM103,000 to a local bank account which he claimed belonged to his son," she told reporters during a press conference at MCA Public Services and Complaints Department today.
Yong said she became suspicious when she could not reach him since the end of May and also could not find him in the address given in the city (KL) as neighbours were unsure who lived at the house.
To make matters worse, Yong discovered that the cheque she got in exchange for the SG$7,000 was actually a bounced cheque as the bank informed her that the account has been closed.
Yong said she was also shocked to discover that RM28,000 was withdrawn in several transactions from her Maybank account in Singapore using her 'missing' ATM card.
"Only then I realised that he had stolen my ATM card," she added.
Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said the "Datuk" seemed to have used the same modus operandi as other Casanovas where they prey on unsuspecting victims by winning their sympathy and then fleece their monies on pretext of claiming financial problems.
"We received three such cases," he said, urging other women who have fallen prey to this man or other Casanovas to lodge police reports or see him in order to nab the culprits.