KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman who paid RM5,500 to a man claiming to be an aide to MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong later discovered he had been scammed.
The 37-year-old from Seremban, known as Lim, said he owed several loan sharks RM25,000 as of May this year.
Unable to repay his debts, he searched social media for help and found an ad for "debt restructuring" by a man calling himself "Roy."
"We met at a restaurant in Petaling Jaya on July 6. He claimed to be a special assistant from a company linked to 'Michael Chong' and said he could help reduce my interest charges.
"But I had to pay 25% of the total debt as a service fee," the victim said at a press conference on Wednesday (July 30).
He said he first transferred RM500 to a company account as instructed, then another RM5,000 on July 11, believing the debt would be settled.
But two months later, the loan sharks were back, still demanding payment.
"That’s when I realised Roy was a fraud. I lodged a police report and had to pay RM28,000 to the loan sharks’ runner to clear the debt," he said.
"I know Chong is a well-known figure, so I didn’t doubt the claim and didn’t verify with his office. Later, I saw the same man on social media had also tricked another victim," he added.
Chong, speaking at the same press conference, said he only found out his name was being misused when three officers from the Seremban police came to record his statement.
"Initial checks showed the account used was registered under a Malay woman, likely a mule account," he said.
"I have three female assistants and one male assistant. This Roy is not one of them, and I don’t know him at all."
Chong said he has appointed a lawyer and will take legal action against the impersonator once police make an arrest.
