It is common for us to have a few social chatting platforms on our phones to communicate with our friends and family. A lot of these apps also allow us to connect with new friends and strike up a conversation with strangers.
Source: Knudsen & Co
One of these apps is the WeChat app which is widely used in Malaysia. A popular function of the app is its “People Nearby” search, that allows you to discover other users who are located within a 1000m radius. While this is a good function for you to make new friends, do take note that this function has also caused many people to get conned!
WeChat scams are nothing new, in fact there have been numerous cases of victims falling prey to all types of scams. Yet, people are still gullible enough to get conned repeatedly.
Source: Sinchew
Many people are afraid to come forward to make a police report, as they are often doing something shady that causes them to get scammed. So don’t be doing dodgy stuff guys!
According to Sinchew, a man identified only as Wong complained that the influx of fake WeChat accounts in Seremban were increasing and he recently got conned out of RM500. Apparently, he added a pretty girl on WeChat previously who offered him sexual services for a fee.
The girl had a beautiful face and model figure, and he agreed to her terms and conditions. On the agreed date and time, he was waiting for her at the designated hotel when a man suddenly called him and asked him to buy MOL Point amounting to RM500 as a security deposit.
He did so but they continued to harass him to pay RM1,000 which he refused to do. The man threatened him and said that they could trace his address through his contact details and would come to look for him. Wong then blocked their contact numbers to stop them from harassing him.
Source: Sinchew
One of the Sinchew reporters decided to try this method and following the details that Wong gave, he opened his “People Nearby” function in the area the girl was located.
Not long after, he hit the jackpot when she added him and immediately messaged him saying,
“Hi, My name is Lian Lian, I’m 20 years old this year. I come from Taiwan and am currently studying here. Recently I have been facing some financial difficulties and have decided to offer some special services. If you need it, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is RM300 for two hours, two times and RM700 if you want me to stay overnight. I’m usually available from 1.00pm until 12.00 midnight.”
He asked her what does her services include and she said,
“I provide services such as lovemaking, massage, bathing, blowjobs and kissing.”
The reporter tried to get more information from her but she was too smart, and would only answer a few questions about herself. She also asked for his contact number and on the appointed day, the reporter told her that he had arrived and she asked him to send photos of the places nearby as proof.
He Googled some images and send it to her. That’s when she got up to her old tricks where an accomplice called him and asked for the RM500 as a safety deposit. The reporter said he would pass the cash to the him face to face but he refused to meet up.
Source: Sinchew
After all this back and forth, the scammer felt that something was amiss and quickly blocked the reporter. It is believed that this conmen are not only concentrated in one location, but are able to attack anywhere as they can use programs to change their location and continue their cheating scheme.
So, people, please always remember to be careful when talking to and meeting strangers online!
Also read: Scammer Tries to Trick Grandma’s RM200,000, Gets Savagely Trolled Instead
