KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A brokerage trader lost RM82,000 (S$36,000) in a car transaction after she was sweet-talked by a man who claimed to be a member of the royalty with the title of 'Datuk'.

The con man had showed her some plans to build a multi-million-ringgit commercial township in Cheras which could earn her RM10mil in a joint venture. The man told her she should be driving a Mercedes Benz when she meets clients.

Vency Chai, a 41-year-old single mother, fell for the scam and paid RM82,000 to the man, her neighbour in Ara Damansara, for the car's three instalments in December.

She also paid RM3,740 for an outlet at a wet market in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. The man not only failed to deliver the car but also reneged on his promise to return her money.

"He convinced me to buy a prestigious car after agreeing to the joint venture in the project," Chai said at a press conference at MCA Public Services and Complaints Department here yesterday.

She said that the man, in his 50s, claimed to have married a niece of a royal family and carried a business card with the position of executive chairman of a property developer in Kebun Baru, Shah Alam.

The man issued Chai a cheque when she pestered him for the car. She drove to Kota Baru to cash the cheque but it bounced.

Department head Datuk Michael Chong said Chai's purpose in calling for a press conference was to alert others about the con man.