{
  "id": 6094724,
  "title": "Civil servant loses over RM150,000 to social media 'lover'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/civil-servant-loses-over-rm150-000-to-social-media-lover",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T03:48:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/09/1527395/civil-servant-loses-over-rm150000-social-media-lover"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "RAUB, Malaysia - A civil servant lost RM151,967 to a love scam involving a suspect who posed as a project manager from Türkiye, according to Superintendent Mohd Shahril Abd Rahman of the district police headquarters. The victim, who befriended the foreigner in April, was instructed to transfer money in stages. The suspect claimed his bank account was frozen, and he needed the funds to manage his projects and personal expenses. Over a period of five months, from April 22 to August 26, the victim sent 35 transactions totaling RM151,967 to 10 unknown bank accounts. After the suspect blocked her on social media, she realized she had fallen victim to a scam and reported the incident to the police. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, whipping, and a fine upon conviction. The public is advised to verify transactions through the Semak Mu online platform (https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my) before making any payments.",
  "summary": "RAUB: A civil servant lost RM151,967 after falling victim to a love scam involving a suspect posing as a project manager based in Türkiye.",
  "key_points": [
    "Civil servant lost RM151,967 to love scam.",
    "Suspect posed as Türkiye project manager.",
    "Victim reported scam after suspect blocked her."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The case highlights the need for verification of transactions to avoid falling prey to scams, with authorities advising use of the Semak Mu online platform to check payment details.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}