A Malaysian gentleman claims to have fallen victim to a scheme, allegedly orchestrated by a Chinese woman he met on Facebook Dating, resulting in him spending RM1,610 on a bottle of wine. Christopher Ling, a 25-year-old multimedia designer, shared his ordeal in a detailed Facebook post on May 18. Ling began conversing with the woman, who identified herself as half-Chinese and half-Taiwanese, nine days after matching on the dating platform.

The woman proposed meeting at a mamak in Puchong, Selangor, for their first date, and Ling, deeming it an unconventional but safe choice, agreed to the 8 pm rendezvous on May 15. However, he alleges that the selection of a mamak as the meeting place was a deliberate ploy to lure him into a scheme.

Upon arrival at the mamak, Ling ordered roti canai and teh o ais while waiting for his date. After more than 15 minutes, the woman messaged him to suggest a change of location. They reconvened nearby and strolled around looking for food. Ling suggested returning to a mamak due to the late hour, but the woman declined, stating, "I don't eat that."

Subsequently, they entered a bar after being approached by a promoter, and the woman took the lead in ordering a bottle of wine. Ling attempted to locate the wine on the menu but was interrupted by the promoter, who snatched the menu away. After a few minutes, the wine arrived in a decanter without the original bottle.

Feeling confused, Ling asked his date about the beverage, and she claimed it was a French wine. Ling, feeling increasingly dizzy, took a few sips before realizing he had been scammed when presented with a bill of RM1,610.08. The woman suggested splitting the bill, handing him RM550, which Ling scrutinized for authenticity.

As the night progressed, Ling discovered that the woman had met seven other men before him. Disheartened by the turn of events, he learned from neighboring customers that the group spent only RM150 on drinks. Ling confronted the bar staff, who revealed that the promoter he described did not work there. Ling, alarmed by the discrepancy in the receipt's address, lodged a police report.

He later discovered that his experience mirrored a common modus operandi known as the "wine scam" and shared his story on Facebook to caution others against a similar fate.