KUCHING, June 26: Several members of the public have approached Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii to seek help after being allegedly conned up to RM400,000 each.
According to Dr Yii, these victims were cheated of their life savings, pensions, and even children’s education fund. One of the victims almost went bankrupt as he was enticed by the scammers to borrow from loan sharks to top-up on their investments.
“They have since lodged a police report and I urge the police to take all the necessary actions and investigations swiftly. A report to Bank Negara against the company has also been made. Such act can be investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and fraud.
“That is why I urge for all investigation by the police to be carried out properly and I will continue to follow up on this issue to make sure it is not swept under the carpet,” said Dr Yii in a statement.
He thus reminded members of the public to be extra careful and not to fall victims to investment scams especially if it involved promises of returns that “may seem be too good to be true” as often it is indeed to good to be true.
“Recently, a group of victims from an alleged scam approached our office to seek for help and share their concerns and predicament of being conned up to RM400,000 per person after investing in an alleged sham company based in Rawang, Selangor that has since been closed down. The local office that used to be located at Icom Square, Kuching has also since been closed.
“They also alleged that up to 2,000 Sarawakians have also fallen to this scam, all enticed to invest into different investment packages including ‘Carpool’, ‘Global Market’, ‘Education’ and many others, promising returns up to 10 per cent monthly for 24 months, redeemable RM35,000 cash certificates or even claiming that they (the victims) are guaranteed to claim a ‘Perodua Axia’ within in 6 months of the investment,” said Dr Yii.
He said the victims were enticed through different means including fancy dinners organised here in Kuching for up to 200 tables.
Once the victims agreed to invest, they were then asked to make cash deposits to mainly two bank accounts which the scammers claimed as official partner company accounts.
“However, upon further checks on these companies, they were just companies registered to sell sports attire and another, to sell vegetables and fruits.”
Dr Yii also called on other possible victims of such scams to avail themselves and he promised to assist them with all the necessary police reports and procedures.
“This is also so that the police can build a stronger case against the people responsible so they (the scammers) will not get away but face justice.”
To Dr Yii, when something is too good to be true, it is often too good to be true.—DayakDaily
