ISKANDAR PUTERI: A marketing executive claims he was deceived by moneylenders who passed themselves off as a legitimate Singaporean business.
The 29-year-old Malaysian, who works in the republic, said he lost RM81,878 to the group.
The man, who wanted to be identified only as Ang, said he had lodged police reports in both Malaysia and Singapore.
He told a press conference at Taman Nusa Bayu here today that his ordeal began when he came across an advertisement on TikTok on Nov 18, purportedly from a licensed Singaporean moneylender.
Also present at the event was Iskandar Puteri parliamentary representative Ng Siam Luang.
Ang claimed he was taken in by the moneylenders' legitimate façade.
He had shared confidential information with them, including bank account details, in order to get a S$8,000 loan.
He said the moneylenders had immediately deposited S$800 as an advance and demanded he repay S$1,200, citing interest charges.
"Every repayment request came with different bank accounts, which I complied with," he said.
They then claimed he had overpaid by S$600 and instructed him to open a new bank account to claim the excess. But he was first required to pay an additional amount to close the other bank account.
"They blamed system errors at the bank and demanded S$5,000 more, claiming an urgent need to resolve the matter. Each time I complied, they came up with new excuses and issues" he said.
He realised he was taken for a ride, and lodged police reports in Singapore and Johor.
The moneylenders, he said, had threatened to retaliate by harming him and his property.
On Dec 29, his home and car were vandalised with red paint, and threatening notes were left at his door.
He lodged a report at the Gelang Patah police station here the next day.
Ang said Singapore police had contacted the moneylender company in the republic, which denied he was a client.
He added that the company said other people had been tricked by the same group, too.
Iskandar Puteri police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Kumarasan confirmed that Ang lodged a report.