Clerk loses RM500k after being cheated by Tinder boyfriend

Deeper connections: Tinder hopes to boost connections made on it.

BATU PAHAT: A clerk lost half a million ringgit after being cheated by her boyfriend whom she had met through the dating app, Tinder. 

Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Azhan Abdul Halim said that the 28-year-old victim lodged a police report on Jan 13 after she deposited about RM500,000 of her mother's retirement funds into the 35-year-old's bank account. 

“They met each other through Tinder and had been in a relationship for about two months before the report was lodged by the victim,” he added. 

ACP Azhan said that the suspect, who claimed to be a teacher from Negri Sembilan, had told the victim that he was in the midst of selling his land worth RM5.5mil and needed some money to pay for a lawyer. 

He added that the suspect was able to persuade the victim for the money and she made several transactions by using her mother's retirement funds. 

ACP Azhan said after receiving the full amount, the victim disappeared with the money although the victim tried to contact him. 

He added that the suspect was arrested at around 10.30am following a police operation to track him down at a mall here on Saturday (Feb 2). 

The police seized RM21,250 cash and a brand new Perodua Myvi, worth RM60,000, believed to have been purchased with the money. 

ACP Azhan said that there was RM414,000 in the suspect's back account, which has since been frozen. 

ACP Azhan said initial investigations showed the suspect is also wanted for seven other cheating cases in other states. 

He added that the suspect is being remanded until Feb 7 to assist with investigations under Section 402 of the Penal Code for cheating.