By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 24: A 19-year-old waiter and his family have been thrust into fear and distress after falling victim to an illegal moneylending scam syndicate that deposited an unsolicited sum of RM200 into the youth’s bank account before extorting his parents for RM8,888.
The victim, identified only as Mr Chai, and his family sought assistance from Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau chief Milton Foo, who highlighted the ordeal during a press conference today.
According to Foo, the nightmare began when Chai’s mother, Madam Ting, received a phone call yesterday (July 23) at around 11am from an individual claiming to be an “Ah Long” (illegal moneylender).
The caller asserted that her 19-year-old son—who recently completed secondary school last year and works at a local restaurant—had borrowed RM200. The syndicate demanded that the parents immediately settle a inflated “debt” amounting to RM8,888.
When confronted by his mother, Chai firmly denied ever borrowing money from any Ah Long, applying for online loans, clicking on social media loan advertisements, or sharing his banking details with any third party other than his employer.
Upon checking his Maybank account, Chai discovered that an unsolicited transfer of RM200 had indeed been credited on Monday night (July 20) without his knowledge or consent.
“Within just four days—from Monday to Thursday—a sum of RM200 suddenly jumped up to RM8,888. They simply pluck numbers out of the sky without any calculation,” Foo said.
Following the phone call, Chai lodged a police report yesterday (July 23).
However, the harassment escalated today. At around 10.24am this morning, Chai’s father received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number addressing him by his full Chinese name.
The family subsequently received multiple messages and calls from several unfamiliar numbers threatening to send local enforcement or gang members to burn down their house and harm the family if the demand was not met.
Foo revealed that checks into the caller’s mobile number confirmed it had already been flagged as a “scammer number” in the police system.
Furthermore, the unsolicited RM200 transfer originated from an account under an entity associated with AEON Bank, raising serious concerns about how the syndicate obtained Chai’s private banking details and his father’s full Chinese name.
“This is not just a case of illegal moneylending; it is a clear act of fraud, extortion, and gangsterism operating under the guise of loan sharking.
“Their actions are no different from acts of terrorism. They intimidate innocent citizens, threaten to burn down homes, and act as though there is no law in this country,” Foo asserted.
Commenting on conflicting advice received by the family from three different police Investigating Officers (IOs) regarding the RM200 sitting in Chai’s account—where officers from Batu Kawa and Sungai Maong suggested leaving the funds untouched, while a sergeant from Siburan advised returning it—Foo cautioned against transferring money back directly to unknown third-party accounts.
He noted that returning funds to secondary mule accounts often entangles victims in further scam operations.
Foo strongly advised the family and the public never to yield to extortion or negotiate with such syndicates.
“If you pay the RM8,888, they will not stop. They will only come back to extort even larger sums. We cannot encourage or succumb to this lawlessness,” he stressed.
He urged the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to take firm and swift action under anti-terrorism and extortion frameworks.
Foo also called on Members of Parliament (MPs) and the federal government to consider establishing a dedicated national security task force to combat the growing menace of tele-scams and illegal moneylending syndicates threatening public safety and personal data privacy. — DayakDaily
