TELUK INTAN: A 58-year-old lawyer's desire to help a "foreign marine geologist" she met over WhatsApp has left her RM1.75 million poorer.
Perak police chief Datuk Azizi Mat Aris said the woman, who works at a law firm in Ipoh, met the suspect via WhatsApp messenger.
The suspect claimed to be a foreign marine geologist who was working on a project involving the construction of an underwater taken off the coast of Terengganu.
"(The suspect), then deceived the victim by saying he had lost all his cash due to a robbery and subsequently asked the victim to make several transfers to eight different bank accounts," he told reporters after a town hall meeting here today.
The lawyer began transferring the money to the suspect in July.
Azizi said the suspect promised to repay the lawyer but never did.
"The victim only realised she had been cheated when the suspect failed to repay the money," he said, adding the woman lodged a police report yesterday.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.