Ah long’s politeness lulls borrowers into trusting them

A petrol station worker says she can get a RM10,000 loan approved in 45 minutes.

All 40-year-old R. Jeevamani needed to do was provide personal details, including her employer and banking details.

“The man who told me this was so polite and it seemed like he understood my urgency to get the money, ” said Jeevamani.

“He spoke softly and told me that unlike loan sharks, he would never cheat me.”

According to Jeevamani, his number popped up at the top of the screen when she searched for “personal loan” on the Internet.

“He said that unlike banks that imposed stringent criteria, he was willing to make the process easy for me, ” she said.

Similarly, night market trader Hanif Osman said he went to a loan shark because the banks refused his request for a loan.

“I have been blacklisted before, but that issue has been settled.

“I don’t have a regular income, so it is not easy to get a bank loan, ” Hanif said.

But his application for a RM15,000 loan was immediately approved after calling a number he found on a printed sign outside his house.

He knew he was borrowing from a loan shark, but he said that he had no choice.

StarMetro called several numbers displayed on a tree and signposts in the city, all offering loans.

Our investigation showed that it was very easy to get a loan as long as personal details were provided.

The loan provider was courteous and willing to help the caller get a loan as quickly as possible.