Nine men lose RM315,000 after using app
JOHOR BARU: Nine men lost more than RM315,000 after falling victim to a gang that used fake profiles on a social media dating app to lure them before robbing them.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said nine reports were lodged between January and May involving the victims aged between 25 and 40.
The incidents were reported in the Taman Pelangi and Kampung Melayu Majidee areas here.
“The reports led to the arrest of five men believed to be involved in a syndicate that lured victims through the dating app by arranging meet-ups.
“During the separate meet-ups, the suspects would persuade the victims to enter a vehicle. Their accomplices would then appear, posing as security guards, and accuse the victims of engaging in inappropriate activities in a public place,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Comm Ab Rahaman said the victims were threatened and assaulted before being robbed of their valuables, including cash, jewellery, debit cards and credit cards.
“The suspects also forced the victims to reveal the PIN of their bank cards before withdrawing money from their accounts and using the cards to purchase gold items,” he said.
Police from the Johor Baru South district police headquarters tracked down the suspects and arrested them in Cameron Highlands at about 11.30am on May 30.
Among the items seized were five mobile phones, a car, a gold purchase receipt, five debit cards, as well as gold chains, earrings, rings and bracelets.
Police are also tracking down another man believed to be linked to the case.
Comm Ab Rahaman said all five suspects, aged between 21 and 28, had previous records for robbery and drug-related offences.
However, urine tests conducted on them returned negative results.
Investigation papers have been submitted to the Johor prosecution office, and three of the five suspects are expected to be charged in the Johor Baru Sessions Court today.
