SEGAMAT: What started as a simple loan enquiry turned into a nightmare for a 29-year-old housewife, who was relentlessly harassed by illegal moneylenders over loans she never agreed to.
The victim, who only wished to be known as Lu, said she responded to an online advertisement offering fast cash on July 2, but dropped the plan upon learning that she needed to pay RM500 interest on a RM500 loan.
Despite her decision, the lender transferred RM500 into her bank account and instructed that she repay RM500 on July 5, and another RM500 on July 8.
“He warned that my husband and family would be harassed if I don’t pay back,” she said.
Fearing for their safety, Lu made the first RM500 payment on July 5, but the loan shark demanded an additional RM2,000 as a so-called late payment penalty.
“I ignored his messages as I felt I was being scammed,” she said.
Lu thought the ordeal had ended – until another RM500 was deposited into her account on July 8, with no details of the sender.
A few days later, she received a call from a different person who claimed she had applied for an RM800 loan.
Lu has lodged a police report and sought help from Bekok assemblyman Tan Chong.
Tan advised the public to avoid clicking on online advertisements promoting loans and giving out personal details.
