In a statement, Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the woman first met her scammer in April through Instagram.

The scammer claimed to be a man residing in London and his account handle was CHONGWEI14580. They began chatting and the victim fell in love.

“On Sept 10, the victim, who had just lost her husband, contacted the suspect (on her husband’s demise) and the suspect offered his sympathies.”

Ayob said the suspect offered to send the victim US$950,000 (RM3,962,900) and on Sept 13, the victim received an email from a courier company in Korea, requesting her to pay RM6,200 for the release of the cash, which had supposedly been confiscated by the authorities there.

He said the suspect then warned the woman that she could be arrested for money laundering if she refused to pay the amount and any other amount requested by the suspect.

The woman panicked and ended up transferring RM395,200 in 24 transactions through 11 different accounts between Sept 13 and 15.

When she realised she had been scammed, the woman lodged a police report.

“The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.”