Duo latest to fall for loan fraud scheme, police advise caution

KUCHING: Two individuals from Kuching and Limbang lost a total of RM13,590 after recently falling prey to fraudulent money-lending schemes.

Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department ( CCID) head Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said the victims had received WhatsApp messages from unknown persons, offering loan services.

In a statement yesterday, he said the first victim, a 42-yearold businessman from Kuching, lost RM11,000 in his attempt to secure a RM150,000-loan.

“The victim was interested to take a loan of about RM150,000. The suspect told the victim that he had to pay a processing fee of RM5,000 and a two-month instalment totalling RM6,000,” said Mustafa Kamal, saying the victim proceeded to make three transactions into the suspect’s bank account.

The victim, he added, realised he had been cheated when the loan never materialise, with a subsequent inspection on the CCID’s portal ‘ccid. rmp.gov. my’ revealing the bank account in question had been involved in cheating cases.

Mustafa Kamal said the second case involved a 21-yearold woman from Limbang who lost a sum of RM2,590.

“The victim received a WhatsApp message on March 15 from an unknown person who offered a loan through a money-lending company.

“She agreed to take a loan of RM10,000 and was asked to pay a processing fee of RM450 as well as RM2,140 as instalment payment.”

According to him, the victim realised she had been cheated when the suspect gave a series of excuses on why the loan had not been approved, and subsequently could no longer be contacted.

In light of similar cases reported recently, Mustafa Kamal reminded the public not to entertain messages from unknown persons offering loans, and advised them to browse the official Royal Malaysia Police website ‘ rmp.gov. my’ or the CCID site ‘ccid. rmp.gov. my’ for the latest information and advice pertaining to financial fraud.