TAWAU: A woman suspected of being involved in an extortion case in Perak by using a fake online massage service advertisement was arrested in Kg Titingan at 12.25pm on Tuesday.
Tawau Deputy Police Chief Supt Champin Piuh said the 21-year-old suspect was detained by a team from the District Police Criminal Investigation Division following a tip-off.
A report was lodged at the Gerik District Police Headquarters (IPD) in Perak in February, with an investigation paper opened under Section 385 of the Penal Code for extortion.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});The case unfolded after a 41-year-old foreigner contacted a woman offering massage services via Google and WhatsApp.
“However, after making an initial payment of RM100, the woman failed to show up at the agreed location.
“The victim later received threats from an unknown number, demanding an additional RM500 to ‘cancel’ the service, warning that someone would be sent to find or harm him if he refused,” he said in a statement, Thursday.
Fearing for his safety, the victim transferred the money to one of the suspect’s accounts via an ATM in Perak.
He lodged a police report after when he realised he had been scammed, especially after being pressured to pay more.
The suspect is being investigated for possible links to a cyber scam syndicate.
Champin reminded the public to always be cautious and not to fall easily for dubious online service offers.
“Avoid making payments to unknown individuals and immediately report any form of threats or intimidation to the authorities,” he said.
For further information or to report scam-related cases, the public can contact the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-26101559 or 03-26101599.
