Three conned by ‘agent’ of China-based online shopping site

IPOH: Three people claimed they have been cheated of about RM24,000 by an “agent” of a China-based online shopping website who claims he can help Malaysians secure products at competitive rates.

They also alleged that more than two dozen others had fallen prey to the Malaysian “agent”.

One of the three, a saleswoman who wished to be known only as Wong, 26, said she lost RM20,000 over 12 transactions for her order of shoes and clothes.

Prior to that she had dealt successfully with the middleman three times.

“I contacted him on Dec 11 to top up my online payment account. I then transferred RM3,333.33 to him but soon after, he informed me that my account had been frozen, and that I needed to deposit more cash to ensure that my initial payment would go through,” she told a press conference here called by Barisan Nasional Public Services and Complaints Centre chief Mohd Rawi Abdullah here yesterday. Wong said that in desperation, she deposited a total of RM17,077.38 from Dec 13 to Dec 15 after being “threatened” by the “agent” via WeChat.

IT consultant Wong Wai Yoong, 31, said he lost about RM2,400 to the man, who he got to know from a Chinese forum, around the same time.

Wai Yoong said although the man’s profile page had been blocked by the forum administrator, he could still be operating under a different name.

Another IT consultant, Gan Hwai Kiat, 36, said he had left a warning for others on the man’s profile page.

“I wrote that the man had conned me of RM1,410, and urged those in the same boat to form a group in WeChat.

“So far 27 have joined. Our total losses come up to more than RM40,000,” he added.