Elderly Man Loses Life Savings After Falling Victim To Sperm Scam
The victim said he is now broke and unable to afford a bus ticket home.
Cover image via 馬來西亞東方日報 Oriental Daily News Malaysia (Facebook)A 57-year-old retiree, identified only as Tan, has tragically lost his entire life savings of RM161,000 after falling victim to an online scam
The scam involved an offer to become a sperm donor for a woman claiming to be from Hong Kong.
Speaking at a press conference at Wisma MCA today, 6 June, Tan said he is now penniless and cannot even afford a bus ticket back home.
Tan recounted that his ordeal began in early February after coming across a Facebook advertisement offering HKD2 million (RM1.08 million) to help a housewife desperate for a child
He said he was soon contacted by a man claiming to be the woman's lawyer, who told him that he had been "selected to be with Lee Na to help her conceive".
"I was shocked and asked why I was chosen. He said it was because I had a handsome face," Tan explained.
The purported 'lawyer' then instructed him to make a series of payments, including RM10,000, RM30,000, and RM1,000, allegedly for registration fees, travel expenses, and various other costs.
Enticed by the promise of an initial RM390,000 payout once all formalities were completed, Tan proceeded with the payments in March.
Following the transactions, his bank contacted him, warning that he could be the victim of a scam.
Tan said he later confronted the so-called 'lawyer', who continued to reassure him of the payout
The 'lawyer' then requested an additional RM120,000, supposedly to cover fees for two medical specialists from the US. Tan proceeded to make three more transfers to meet this new demand.
Growing suspicious, since he had only ever dealt with the 'lawyer', Tan asked to meet the woman or at least have a video call, but both requests were refused.
The 'lawyer' continued coming up with excuses but kept assuring Tan that the promised RM1 million payout would be made eventually.
That's when Tan realised he had been scammed.
Tan then filed a police report and sought assistance from the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department
Its head, Datuk Seri Michael Chong, said that although the victim acknowledged the foolishness of his decision, he still chose to come forward, hoping to warn others and prevent them from falling for similar scams.
