KUCHING: The SUPP Public Complaints Bureau has received complaints from three victims of illegal online moneylending that they had been extorted and threatened by suspected foreign loan sharks.
Bureau chief Milton Foo Tiang Wee in a press conference recently, said the victims had borrowed a total of RM108,950 from 62 non-local individuals with Chinese accents through Facebook and WhatsApp.
It is reported that the first victim (Mr A) borrowed a sum of RM40,000; the second (Mr B) RM18,950; and the third (Mr C) RM50,000.
“Mr A had clicked on an unlicensed money lending link on Facebook and borrowed RM40,000 from 40 individuals who lent in different sums ranging from RM1,000 to RM3,000 via WhatsApp.
“After that, the victim had to pay back RM70,000 with interest of RM200 to RM300 a week or more.
“Once the debt was settled, four individuals still demanded more money and even threatened that they will ask people to look for Mr A,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr B initially borrowed a sum of RM34,500 from 14 individuals in July, however, he only received RM18,950.
Foo pointed out that the victim managed to pay back RM4,200 of the amount.
“Mr B and his wife had received threats from loan sharks that his family would be kidnapped and his house would be burned down.
“He also received messages saying that they (loan sharks) would employ local gangsters to look for the victim and his family members,” he said.
As for Mr C’s case (who was not present at the press conference), he had borrowed RM50,000 from eight individuals from July 20 to Aug 3.
The victim has paid back RM19,000 but he was asked by the loan sharks to pay back a sum of RM141,000.
Foo stated that all three victims had paid back the amounts to individual bank accounts that are serving as mule accounts and not to a certain company’s bank account.
“The victims and their family members have been suffering from various types of threats and mental distress in the last month. They had already lodged police reports on the matter.”
Hence, I urge the police to protect the victims’ families from harm, he said.
The public is advised not to click on any loan related advertisement on social media even though it may look attractive. If need be, they should go through legal moneylending institutions.
