ALOR STAR: A university student has allegedly scammed Cancer Survivors Malaysia (CSM), collecting over RM200,000 in donations from 20 charitable organisations and well-wishers across Malaysia and as far as Melbourne, Australia.
The 23-year-old undergraduate reportedly initiated this deception due to his family's financial struggles and his need for tuition assistance over the past two years.
Eng Hiap Boon, a representative from a Penang-based charitable organisation, is urging other NGOs and individuals who may have fallen victim to this scam to come forward and file police reports.
"I've received numerous calls from NGOs and individuals claiming they have also been defrauded after this case was highlighted by mainstream media," Eng said at a joint press conference with CSM chairman Zuraini Kamal.
"I believe there are many more victims out there, and I urge them to report the scam. This is the only way to prevent him from continuing to deceive kind-hearted Malaysians."
Victims have reported donating amounts ranging from several thousand ringgit to as much as RM20,000 after being moved by the student's fabricated story.
Many, however, have hesitated to lodge police reports due to threats from the student, who allegedly warned he would take his own life if they reported him.
"Yet, since CSM filed its report on Monday, the student remains very much alive," Eng said.
Zuraini expressed her determination to report the student despite his threats, stressing the need to stop his deceitful actions.
"It's unfair to the victims if we don't act now, and it's even more unfair to those genuinely in need of help.
"We must unite to prevent unscrupulous individuals like this from exploiting the kindness of others," she said.
Zuraini also revealed that she filed a police report at the Kubang Pasu district police headquarters, alleging that the student had misled CSM and others by claiming his family faced financial hardship and needed help with his tuition fees.
He had approached her last Sunday, asking for assistance in raising RM5,000 to avoid expulsion from a public university.
Moved by his plight, she shared his story on her Facebook page, including his bank account details.
Within hours, she raised RM1,176, only to later discover from another NGO in Penang that he had collected over RM30,000 but had used the funds for online gambling instead.