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| Beware of Michat Scam! Man in Pontianak Extorted After Being Accused of "Disturbing Someone's Wife". |
Pontianak – Be careful when meeting strangers through dating apps! A man in Pontianak recently became the victim of an extortion scam after being tricked through the popular app, Michat.
It all started when the victim met a woman through Michat. After chatting for a while, they agreed to meet and engage in intimate activity, just like a couple. The meeting spot was set at a boarding house located on Jalan Puskesmas Pall 3, West Pontianak District.
But instead of meeting the woman, the man was shocked to find two men waiting for him. One of them claimed to be the woman's husband. Things quickly took a dark turn. The victim was threatened and forced to pay Rp200,000 (around $12) as a “fine” for supposedly disturbing someone else’s wife.
Feeling trapped and extorted, the man reported the incident to the police. The West Pontianak Police's Criminal Investigation Unit responded quickly. After gathering community intel and identifying the suspects, the police arrested both men around 12 PM on Jalan Dr. Wahidin, Pontianak City.
During the arrest, authorities also found a karambit-style knife and a mobile phone believed to have been used in the crime.
The West Pontianak Police Chief, AKP Basuki Arif Wibowo, through the Criminal Investigation Unit Head Iptu Mujiono, confirmed the arrest of two male suspects, identified by the initials IS and FA. They were accused of threatening and extorting the victim with violence.
Iptu Mujiono also issued a public warning, urging everyone to be extra cautious when using online dating apps. According to him, more and more people are falling victim to similar scams because they’re too trusting and easily lured by fake promises.
“We urge the public to stay alert and not fall for these tricks. Criminals are getting more creative, and scams can happen anywhere—even on apps that seem harmless,” Mujiono said.
Both suspects are now in police custody at the West Pontianak Police Station for further investigation.
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