The price of trust: Teen’s harrowing ordeal with online stranger

SHAH ALAM - What started as a harmless online friendship quickly spiraled into a terrifying nightmare for 19-year-old Aina (not her real name).

In an interview with Sinar, Aina shared how a relationship she thought was built on love ended up being her worst mistake.

It all began with friendly messages with a man who introduced himself as "Daniel."

"He was incredibly kind at first. We talked about everything—our hobbies, families and future dreams. He made me feel safe and I trusted him," she said.

As weeks passed, Aina saw Daniel as a close friend. Trusting him completely, she shared personal photos and videos without a second thought.

But soon, the illusion shattered when Daniel revealed his true nature.

"At first, he said the photos and videos were just to ease his longing for me

"But over time, I started questioning why he kept asking for them. Something didn’t feel right," she said.

Aina’s suspicions were confirmed after one day, Daniel became aggressive and started making demands.

She said Daniel suddenly asked for RM2,000 and if she refused, he threatened to send her personal photos to her family and friends.

"I was terrified. He even claimed that he knew where I lived and warned me if I reported him, there would be consequences," she said.

Gripped with fear, Aina begged Daniel to stop, but he refused, escalating his threats.

"He became more aggressive, sending me endless messages, even using my own photos to intimidate me.

"After days of living in fear, I finally confided in my sister. With my family’s support, I gathered the courage to lodge a police report," she said.

Looking back, Aina admitted that the experience left her blaming herself and struggling with regret.

She said at first, she was ashamed and afraid people would say it was her fault. But her sister reminded her that the man was the one who took advantage of her trust.

"Over time, I found the strength to move forward. My family has been my biggest support system," she said.

Aina said she hopes her story could serve as a warning to others.

"This happened because I was too trusting, too easily swayed by sweet words.

"Be careful with social media. One mistake can change your life forever," she said.