JOHOR BARU: A network engineer and his family were terrorised by illegal moneylenders after he decided not to take up their loan offer.
Ong Wei Ming, 25, came across an online advertisement on Dec 14, which he thought was put out by a legitimate moneylender.
Curious and in need of funds, Ong, who works in Singapore, clicked on the link and filled in his personal details, including his bank account number.
He listed S$8,000 (RM25,433) as the loan amount he needed.
“Shortly after submitting my details, I was contacted via WhatsApp by a man who introduced himself as Zhong from the moneylending company,” Ong said when interviewed.
However, the conversation raised red flags, and he decided not to proceed with the loan.
Despite declining the offer, Ong said he was surprised to find S$900 transferred into his bank account later the same night.
“I questioned him about it, and he claimed it was a mistake by his staff. I immediately transferred the money back,” he said, saying that was when the harassment began.
Ong said “Zhong” accused him of failing to follow proper procedures when returning the money and that this had caused problems with his bank account.
“He demanded S$4,100 (RM13,035) to ‘settle’ the issue, saying I will not hear from him again after that,” he said.
“I did not believe him. So, the next morning, I lodged a police report (in Singapore) and was advised to block the man’s number and cease all communication.”
However, a few days later, Ong’s 52-year-old father, who lives in Johor Baru, received a threatening phone call believed to be from the same person.
Worried about their safety, the family transferred RM10,000 in hopes of resolving the matter.
But Ong said “Zhong” kept asking for more money, which came up to S$15,770 (RM50,126).
On Dec 27, a note containing a threat to burn down their house was found at their gate, prompting the family to check into a hotel for several days.
The intimidation worsened the next day when a neighbour’s house was splashed with red paint, said Ong.
“On Jan 3, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into our car porch, setting part of the floor on fire. The person later called and taunted me, threatening to set my car on fire the next time,” he said.
Ong said he and his father have since lodged four police reports and are appealing for increased police patrols in the area.
He has also sought assistance from Johor MCA Youth public services and complaints bureau chief Henry Mok, who said he would help liaise with authorities to enhance security measures.
Mok warned that many scammers now pose as ah long syndicates, using fear and intimidation to extort money from people.
He cautioned the public against sharing personal or banking details with strangers online, given the potential for criminal exploitation.
