Latest news with #MCAPublicServicesandComplaintsBureau
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Debtors fall prey to loan shark ‘managers'
Seeking remedy: Chong (centre, seated) at a press conference at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Scammers are posing as 'managers' of loan sharks to dupe debtors into settling their debts at a discount, says Datuk Seri Michael Chong. The MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief said he received 11 complaints of such cases. Chong said these debtors were contacted by scammers just after they lodged police reports on their previous cases of being harassed by loan sharks. 'Some, after one-and-a-half hours or one day after lodging a police report, will receive a phone call or text message from a so-called 'manager' of the loan shark. 'The scammers told debtors they received a call from the police about the report, and they are willing to settle their debts at a discount,' he said in a press conference yesterday. Enticed by the discount, some of the debtors would end up depositing a sum, believing they have settled their previous debts. 'Afterwards, when they receive a call from the actual loan shark they borrowed from, only then they realise they had deposited money to a scammer,' Chong added. MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Ivan Tan said after studying the 11 cases thoroughly, his team could only determine two possibilities: either it is a conspiracy between the scammer and the loan shark, or an inside job. 'How could the information in the victim's police report end up in the hands of a scammer? 'So, we will gather all the information and pass it to the authorities to investigate,' said Tan. A man, who only wanted to be known as John, said his predicament began when his wife, a foreigner, had borrowed RM2,000 from a loan shark. He said the late payment interest eventually accumulated to RM43,500 earlier this month. John said he then lodged a police report on Aug 11. After the report, he received WhatsApp messages from an unknown number, claiming to be a manager of the loan shark, offering a discount. 'I subsequently blocked the number. He then contacted me using a different number to threaten me and my family,' said John, who subsequently sought help from Chong. According to Chong, some of the victims had deposited as much as RM10,000 to these 'managers'. 'We urge all borrowers to lodge a police report if you receive any such messages. 'Remember to check the phone number or bank account to see if it tallies with the loan shark you borrowed from. If it doesn't, they are scammers,' he added. Meanwhile, Chong said he received a total of 243 cases involving nearly RM25mil owed to loan sharks as of August this year. 'Most of them told me that it (the loan taken) was due to business failure, but I don't believe it, as many of them are also involved in gambling,' he said.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Loan shark victims being duped into settling fake debts by scammers
KUALA LUMPUR: Scammers are now targeting debtors by posing as fake loan sharks and convincing them to settle a fake debt, says Datuk Seri Michael Chong. The MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief said he received 11 complaints of such cases, and nine individuals have already deposited five-figure amounts to scammers posing as loan sharks. According to Chong, these debtors were contacted by the scammers just after they lodged police reports on their previous cases of being harassed by loan sharks. "Some, after one-and-a-half hours or one day after lodging a police report, they will receive a phone call or text message from a so-called 'manager' of the loan shark. "The scammers told debtors that they received a call from the police about the report and they are willing to settle their debts at a discount," said Chong. Enticed by the discount, some of the debtors would end up depositing a sum, believing that they have settled their previous debts. "After that, when they receive the call from the actual loan shark that they borrowed from, only then they realise that they had deposited money to a scammer," he added. MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Ivan Tan said after studying the 11 cases thoroughly, his team could only determine two possibilities, either it being a conspiracy between the scammer and the loan shark, or an inside job. "How could the information in the victim's police report end up in the hands of a scammer? "So, we will gather all the information and pass it to the authorities to investigate," said Tan. According to Tan, some victims received text messages from scammers, with information being eerily similar to the police report that they lodged earlier. "The messages have their full name, home address and all the words are in capital letters. "The wording in a police report is all in capital letters and the message could be copy-pasted from the police report," said Tan. A victim, only wanted to be known as John, said his predicament began when his wife, a foreigner, had borrowed RM2,000 from a loan shark. According to John, late payment interests eventually accumulated to RM43,500 earlier this month and he resorted to lodge a police report on Aug 11. After the report, he received WhatsApp messages from an unknown number claiming to be a manager of the loan sharks mentioned in the police report, demanding further payment. "I subsequently blocked the scammer and he contacted him using a different number to threaten me and my family," said John, who subsequently sought help from Chong. According to Chong, some of the victims had deposited as much as RM10,000 to these fake loan sharks. "We urge all borrowers to lodge a police report if you receive any such messages. "Remember to cross check the phone number or bank account if it tallies with the loan shark you borrowed from. If it doesn't, they are scammers," added Chong. Meanwhile, Chong said he received a total of 243 cases involving nearly RM25mil owed to loan sharks as of August this year. "Most of them told me that it was due to business failure, but I don't believe it, as many of them are also involved in gambling," added Chong.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
Loan sharks harass woman over dead son's debts
KUALA LUMPUR: Loan sharks have been harassing an elderly woman over a RM46,000 debt, which involved her deceased son. The man allegedly took his own life in May 2021 during the Movement Control Order (MCO) after struggling with crippling debts. The woman, known only as Choo, 68, said her youngest son passed away on May 27 while she was being treated for Covid-19. "He was having financial troubles at the time. He was always borrowing from loan sharks, and his elder brother had previously helped settle almost RM100,000 of his debts. "At the age of 34, he killed himself and left behind a wife. At the time, I was also in hospital due to the Covid-19 outbreak," she said at a press conference at Wisma MCA here today. Choo said she was contacted on August 8 by a man, claiming to be the loan shark, who demanded RM46,000. The caller insisted the amount was owed by her late son. Speaking in Bahasa Malaysia, the man also contacted the deceased's elder brother, threatening to "disturb" the elderly woman if the debt was not paid. "I explained that my son died more than four years ago because of debt. How can I pay for something I didn't borrow? "I told him I had no money, and my children also said they couldn't help, but this person kept pressuring and threatening us," she said. The loan shark allegedly used multiple phone numbers to call and message the family via WhatsApp, offering to "negotiate" and even promising a discount if she agreed to pay. "I don't know what to do. My son did borrow a lot in the past, but why bring this up after so long? "I'm scared because he threatened to come to my house. I've lodged a police report and sought help from the MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau," Choo added. Meanwhile, MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Seri Michael Chong urged stern action against loan sharks who prey on vulnerable members of the public.
The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
'Ah long' resurface to haunt family of deceased debtor
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Michael Chong says loan sharks are hounding the family of a debtor who had died years ago. The MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief said, at a press conference at Wisma MCA on Tuesday (Aug 13), that loan sharks had unexpectedly contacted the family on Aug 4 after years of silence. The debtor's brother, a 46-year-old who only wanted to be known as Koh, said that his mother was contacted by the loan sharks using two different numbers. 'They demanded payment of RM46,000 that they claimed had been lent to my brother. They then said that if the money was not paid, they would 'come to see her' at her home,' he said. Koh admitted that his late brother had accumulated debts in the past, with around RM100,000 being borrowed from loan sharks to help fund his studies. The family has also helped pay off those debts over the years. However, after he took his own life in 2021 because of financial problems, loan sharks generally left the family alone. A police report regarding the threats had been lodged on Aug 4. Chong, who organised the press conference, said that he had also spoken to the loan sharks on behalf of the family. "I told them that the person who borrowed the money had passed away, but they still insisted on claiming the money from the mother. They also said that they would offer a 'discount'," he said. He added that these sorts of cases were not new, with at least two other cases in the past having similar circumstances.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- The Sun
Johor police receive 130 reports over wellness package scam totaling RM698,000
JOHOR BAHRU: Johor police have received 130 reports from individuals who claimed they were cheated by a health and wellness company, 38 Speed Relax and Wellness, with total losses amounting to RM698,155.67. State police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the victims had purchased packages priced according to the number of treatments selected, with services supposedly available at any of the company's outlets nationwide, at any time. 'However, the victims only realised they had been duped when they could no longer contact the company to schedule appointments. They later discovered that all of the company's outlets had ceased operations without any prior notice,' he said in a statement today. Kumar said investigations are ongoing under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of imprisonment for a term between one and 10 years, with whipping, and a possible fine, upon conviction. Earlier, media reports stated that over 1,000 customers had alleged they were scammed after a health and beauty centre operating 28 outlets nationwide abruptly shut down. MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chairman Heng Zhi Li was quoted as saying the company's sudden closure left many customers unable to redeem the services they had already paid for in full.
