By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 4: A woman borrower who had taken a personal loan from a moneylender was conned of RM11,000 by a scammer known as “Raymond,” who deceived her into believing that the payment would fully settle her debt.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant Michael Kong revealed that the victim, Madam Jong, had initially lodged a police report against the moneylender after facing harassment, threats, and intimidation.
“Before she could notify anyone about the police report, she received a call from an individual identifying himself as ‘Raymond.’ Claiming to act on behalf of the moneylender, he offered to resolve the matter amicably and assured her that the debt could be fully settled for RM11,000,” he said in a statement today.
Trusting his word, Jong made the payment. However, just a week later, she was again contacted by “Raymond”, who demanded another RM5,000 as a supposed “full and final settlement.” Alarmed, Jong reached out to Kong for assistance.
Kong advised her to lodge a second police report and accompanied her to meet the actual moneylender directly. During the meeting, the moneylender confirmed they had no knowledge of “Raymond” and suspected the individual was impersonating them.
“They also revealed that another customer had experienced a similar scam after lodging a police report. Interestingly, a typo in the name of the moneylender within that police report appeared verbatim in Raymond’s messages, indicating he may have had access to the report,” Kong explained.
From this, it was deduced that “Raymond” had obtained a copy of the police report and exploited the information to deceive victims into making fraudulent payments.
Fortunately, the actual moneylender, upon learning of the deception, agreed to waive all accrued interest and requested Jong to only repay the remaining principal sum, which she did.
Kong said the case serves as a strong reminder for the public not to borrow from moneylenders, as what may seem like a quick fix can lead to long-term stress, harassment, and financial ruin.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant against impostors. “Never trust anyone who contacts you claiming to represent someone else without proper verification. Always speak directly to the relevant party through official channels before making payments. Scammers prey on fear and urgency, so pause and verify,” he stressed.
Kong called on anyone facing similar situations to seek help promptly, noting that community vigilance and cooperation are vital in protecting people from fraud and exploitation. — DayakDaily
