Bogus ‘Datuk Seri’ visa agent cheats five of RM37,800

KUALA LUMPUR: A bogus visa agent claiming to be a “Datuk Seri” has cheated five victims from the Philippines of RM37,872. One of the victims has yet to get her passport back from him.

Mercy Sison, 44, who spoke on behalf of the victims at a press conference in Wisma MCA yesterday, said she met the agent in 2015.

Sison said she trusted the agent because he claimed to be a “Datuk Seri” with connections in the Home Ministry.

“I’ve been living in Malaysia for more than 13 years,” she said.

“I know that a person who carries the Datukship title should be someone respected in this country.

“I had pleaded to the Datuk Seri to give back our passport and at least half of the amount we had given him so that we can return to the Philippines.”

MCA’s Head of Public Services and Complaints Department Datuk Seri Michael Chong ( pix) questioned the validity of the agent’s Datukship claim.

The veteran politician said there are many “fake datuks” who used their title to scam others.

Chong said he had contacted the agent several times but was unsuccessful.

“The first time I contacted him he said he had a stroke, the second time he said he had cancer and the third time he said he was unwell.

“That’s when I knew I could not trust this man,” he said. Chong also reminded foreigners to be more careful when applying for new visas as there were many “fake agents” trying to cheat them.

He said Sison’s case was just a “tip of the iceberg” and believed that there were many other similar cases.