Conned out of RM37,500 for a non-existent loan
KUALA TERENGGANU: A 39-yearold nurse was duped into handing over RM37,500 to a syndicate for an non-existent RM20,000 loan last Monday.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Idris Abdul Rafar yesterday said the victim, from Kuala Berang in Hulu Terengganu, received a WhatsApp message from an unidentified person claiming to be attached to a money lending company in Johor Baru and was offered a RM20,000 loan on Sept 26.
Idris said the victim, who was interested with the loan, agreed with the terms and condi- tions offered by the suspect.
He said following a contract between them, the victim was told to pay RM358 for 72 months with RM1,260 up front that would be returned to her with the loan.
“She transferred RM500 into an account and another RM1,260 on the following day (Sept 27),” he said, adding that the victim also banked in RM1,500 into the same account for the loan management fees on Oct 3.
“She paid RM1,400 for stamp duty on Oct 4, and another RM3,000 for the loan approval cost and RM2,000 on Oct 7,” he said.
“The victim was later informed by a clerk that her money was pocketed by the individual, and that she would need to settle the loan process by introducing the victim to another officer.
“However, the victim was told that she needed to pay another RM5,000 to open a new account, which she agreed to.”
Idris said the victim paid another RM3,000 after being informed that a cheque of RM50,000 had been transferred into her account on Oct 27.
“She received a call from a person who claimed to be from Bank Negara, who asked for her details for an account confirmation.
“She was asked for an additional RM7,500 and RM4,000 for service charge,” he said.
Fearing she had been cheated, she lodged a report at the Kuala Terengganu police station on Thursday.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.