KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of victims might have already been deceived by a syndicate that offers high-end smartphones at unreasonably low prices on social media.
This scam syndicate, masquerading as a pawn shop, has been using Telegram to trap victims through various advertisements for non-existent smartphones.
Checks by Harian Metro revealed that this syndicate claims the smartphones have to be auctioned off because their owners failed to settle their loan repayments and installments at the pawn shop.
Claiming that the business is conducted ethically, the syndicate justifies the sale of the smartphones as a means to cover part of the funds borrowed by its clients.
Using the group name 'Pajak Go Phone Shop', the syndicate is actively advertising various smartphone models, including tablets and laptops.
A reporter who went undercover to understand the syndicate's modus operandi found that the Telegram content administrator only operates from 9am to 9pm.
There are over 7,400 members in the Telegram group, and the number is increasing daily. Here is a conversation between the reporter and the scammer.
Reporter: I'm interested in buying the iPhone that was offered?
Scammer: Which model did you choose from our Telegram catalogue?
Reporter: I want to buy the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Is it true that the price is only RM350? Isn't the original price over RM5,000?
Scammer: We do offer prices cheaper than the market. These are second-hand items. There are various other models you can choose from. There are Samsung Galaxy S23 for RM400, iPhone 15 Pro Max for RM300, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold for RM650, Vivo X90 Pro auctioned at RM300.
Reporter: I'm interested, but when can I get it? Can I do cash on delivery? Will you deliver it to my house and I'll pay cash?
Scammer: You just need to pay and the smartphone will be yours. We can't do COD because our company is in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. You transfer the money, and the item will arrive within one to five working days. We use courier services.
Reporter: How can I be sure you're not scamming?
Scammer: If you are in doubt, you can go directly to our company at Block H, Lorong KK Taipan 3, Inanam New Township, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I guarantee, this is not a scam.
Reporter: I agree to buy. When can you deliver?
Scammer: Fill out the form first, send a screenshot of the product you want, transfer the money to our bank account. Then send the receipt and wait for the item to arrive at your house. Don't worry, we follow the code of ethics of the Malaysian Pawn Shop Owners Association and have an official licence from the government.
However, the scammer that was contacted failed to provide an office number and used unusual language on social media.
Among the strange terms used were 'payment to the auction hall treasurer', 'order limit at 20 PM', 'SIM coward', 'free glass tempered', 'dented battery health', and various other incomprehensible phrases.
Suspicion was further raised when the scammer also claimed to be auctioning gold through fake accounts.
Meanwhile, crime analyst Kamal Affandi Hashim said that scammers on social media platforms like Telegram use attractive offers, promising quick cash loans or appealing prices for valuable items like jewelry, electronics, or luxury goods.