Kuala lumpur: A woman has been facing threats from unlicensed moneylenders advertised on social media after falling into debt exceeding RM100,000.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Brickfields District Police Chief ACP Hoo Chang Hook reported that the 34-year-old woman, employed as an officer at a private company, initially borrowed RM2,000 from an agent, receiving only RM1,400, yet she repaid the full RM2,000 by last July.
The victim later encountered another loan offer of RM4,000 on October 28 through the WhatsApp application, which she initially refused. However, upon facing threats and coercion from the parties involved, she eventually agreed to the loan. Despite this, she only received RM2,100 and repaid RM1,500, while continuing to receive unsolicited loan offers from unknown numbers.
Hoo revealed that the woman subsequently resorted to multiple loans to settle her existing debts, resulting in 16 loans from individuals posing as moneylenders. The loans totaled RM126,600, with repayments reaching RM151,400. Yet, the involved parties persistently demanded additional payments and issued threats over her inability to pay.
Investigations indicated that all transactions were routed through several bank accounts, presumably managed by the same syndicate. The case is currently under investigation under Section 5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951.
In another incident, Hoo reported that an elderly man was defrauded of RM659,000 by an online investment scam. The 65-year-old was added to an investment group on WhatsApp on September 12 and was misled into an 'off-market' investment supposedly run by a financial institution, interacting with two individuals.
Enticed by promises of significant returns, the victim conducted eight transactions into two separate accounts between October 7 and 29, totaling RM659,000. This case is under investigation under Sections 420 and 424 of the Penal Code.
Hoo cautioned the public to remain vigilant against investment offers promising high returns in short periods, particularly those propagated through social media, messaging apps, or dubious websites.