Another heartbreaking case of online love turning into fraud has emerged—this time involving a woman in her 60s from Kuching who was scammed out of over RM1.21 million by a man posing as her Chinese boyfriend.
The 65-year-old woman reportedly fell into the trap last July after meeting the scammer online. Believing he had been detained by authorities and needed help, she went to extreme lengths to “save him”—draining her savings, borrowing money from relatives and friends, pawning her car, and even turning to loan sharks. In just seven months, she transferred a total of RM1,213,742 across 25 transactions. One of those transfers was as high as RM200,000 in a single day.
Despite the financial devastation, the woman still believes her “boyfriend” is real and has refused to lodge a police report, leaving her son feeling helpless and unsure of what to do next.
At a press conference, Kelvin Liew Lee Khong, special assistant to Kuching MP Dr. Kelvin Yii, revealed that he was approached last week by a man seeking help for his mother, who had been manipulated into believing the scammer’s story.
According to Liew, the fraudster claimed he had transferred RM60,000 into the woman’s account and then introduced her to a fake “lawyer” and “bank manager” to stage a series of elaborate lies. The scammers used various excuses such as bail money, alleged detainment, and money laundering accusations to pressure her into sending funds.
From the end of last year until July 14, 2025, she made repeated transfers into multiple bank accounts, believing she was helping someone she loved.
The press conference also saw the attendance of Sarawak DAPSY treasurer Wong Kung Yu and Kuching DAPSY secretary Chang Yan Ning, who called for increased public awareness to prevent such scams from continuing to ruin lives.
