Three local men have been cheated out of 1,600 patacas each in sex party and matchmaking activity scams, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Chan Nam said at a regular press conference this week.
According to Ho, a 35-year-old construction site driver reported to the police on Monday night that he had been defrauded out of 1,600 patacas in an online scam. He told the police that he saw a message posted on his smartphone app on October 3 evening about joining a “sex party”. He then downloaded a Telegram account on his smartphone to join the group. Afterwards, he realised that he was required to pay a membership fee to join the group. The membership categories were 1,600 patacas for ordinary members, 2,200 patacas for platinum members and 2,800 patacas for diamond members.
The victim decided to join as an ordinary member first. He went to a convenience store to pay the membership fee through “MPay” but later was unable to contact the organiser. He suspected that he had been defrauded so he reported the case to the police.
Meanwhile, a 30-year-old casino worker and a male friend filed a police report on Monday night. The casino worker told the police that his friend messaged him on October 5 evening via WeChat and asked him whether he would like to join a “male and female matchmaking activity”, and if interested, he would have to pay a membership fee. He told his friend that he was interested in joining the activity so his friend sent him a link to download a Telegram account on his smartphone to join. After joining the group, he was notified to pay a membership fee of 1,600 patacas. He then paid the fee via “MPay” but was unable to contact the group after the payment. He then contacted his friend who told the victim that he had also lost contact with the group after the payment so both decided to report the case to the police.
No-one had been arrested at the time of Wednesday’s press conference.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesmen Ho Chan Nam poses during Wednesday’s regular press conference. Photo: Camy Tam
