GEORGE TOWN: A 24-year-old jobless man was nabbed for allegedly being involved in a series of extortions amounting to RM34,000 after a victim here lodged a report against him.

       Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Kamarul Rizal Jenal said the suspect was traced and arrested in Pontian, Johor on Thursday (July 22) after a report was lodged by the victim who intended to engage in sexual services online and was extorted for RM450.

       “The man lost RM450 from the extortion and lodged a report on July 16 and the suspect was then nabbed in Pontian in Johor,” said Supt Kamarul.

       He added that the suspect was then found to be involved in a series of extortions since 2019 and is believed to have accumulated up to RM34,000 from extorting others over the years.

       “Further investigations found that the suspect got the idea to extort others after he fell victim and lost RM900 to such acts back in 2017,” he said.

       Supt Kamarul said the suspect’s modus operandi was to use profile photos of attractive women on social media applications to attract users’ attention and trick them into believing the account provides sexual services.

       “The suspect will then randomly contact potential victims through the application’s messaging system and their messaging contents will then be used to extort the victims,” he said.

       “The suspect would threaten to spread the victims’ messaging contents to their family members or acquaintances through Facebook,” he added.

       Supt Kamarul said the suspect is unemployed and is an SPM school leaver with one prior criminal record and two drug-related records.

       “The suspect was arrested and will be remanded for three days,” he added.

       He said police also confiscated a mobile phone, ATM cards and 28 SIM cards.

       “The case will be investigated under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion,” said Supt Kamarul.