Miri student cheated by Facebook 'friend' dealing with pets

Miri student claimed she was cheated of RM8,380 by Facebook "friend".

MIRI: A female student has lodged a police report here, claiming she has been cheated out of RM8,380 by a Facebook "friend".

The student from an education institution here who lives in Permyjaya housing estate, claimed she was duped into making eight donations via bank payments since Nov 8 towards a company that was supposedly carrying out pet-welfare projects.

In her police report, she said she had gotten to know a female friend on Facebook.

The student said this Facebook friend had told her there is a company that deals with pet-welfare projects here that required donations.

The student said she had made eight separate donations totalling RM8,380 to a bank account number provided by the friend.

The student soon realised she had been cheated and had since lodged a police report.

Miri OCPD Asst Comm Lim Meng Seah confirmed that a police investigation has commenced.

"The modus operandi is that the victim is lured into donating money to a so-called pet-charity project that is non-existent," he said in his latest updates to reporters.

The case is being probed under Section 420 of the Penal Code as a case of cheating, he added.