A local woman lost 1.84 million patacas in an investment scam after her online “boyfriend” persuaded her to invest in futures, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Wai Lok said during a regular press conference yesterday.
According to Ho, the middle-age female victim met a male netizen on a social media platform in late October, and they quickly became an online couple. During their virtual relationship, the male persuaded the victim to invest online through a website, Ho said, adding that the victim deposited last month a total of 1.84 million patacas in “futures contracts” into the website’s bank account.
Ho said the victim noted on Wednesday that her “investment” had grown to 9.4 million patacas and attempted to withdraw the money. However, the website told her that there was an error and denied her withdrawal. Finally realising that she might have been cheated, the victim reported the case to the Judiciary Police on Thursday.
The term “futures” generally refers to financial contracts that obligate the buyer to purchase, and the seller to sell, an asset at a predetermined future date and price. This type of contract is commonly used in commodities, currencies, and financial instruments.
