Worker loses RM11,880 to online loan scam

PASIR GUDANG: A factory worker who responded to an advertisement from a bogus company on Facebook that offered fast processing for a personal loan of RM20,000 was instead cheated of RM11,880.

Badrul Hisham Mohd Yusoff, 44, said he made a call on Oct 2 to enquire about the loan and agreed to the terms and conditions given by a representative, who identified himself only as Farhan.

He said within three days, Farhan sent him a photo of a letter stating that the loan had been approved but he was told to pay RM880 as processing fee before the money could be released.

“The following day, Farhan asked for another RM3,000 for lawyer fees, which he claimed would be returned to Badrul with the loan amount.

“After paying up, he sent me a bank slip that showed that their attempt to transfer RM23,000 to my account was rejected and I was told to open a current account to receive the money,” he told a press conference yesterday.

After he deposited RM5,000 to open a current account, Badrul said he received a bank transaction slip stating that RM28,000 was successfully transferred to his account.

However, the father of three schoolgoing children felt something was wrong after finding that his account was still empty.

When he was told by Farhan that Bank Negara was holding back the money until the lender deposited RM5,000 for insurance, Badrul said he decided not to go ahead with the application.

But he was told that he needed to pay RM3,500 to cancel his application, but after arguing with Farhan, he agreed to pay RM3,000.

Badrul’s attempts to contact Farhan after that failed and he lodged a police report.

Urging the public to be wary of online loan offers, Seri Alam OCPD Supt Jokhiri Abdul Aziz said the case was being investigated under Section 402 of the Penal Code for cheating.