KUALA LUMPUR: The pursuit of aesthetician courses for a group of women turned ugly when they were apparently issued with fake certificates bearing forged logos of a university.
Each of them claimed to have spent between RM100,000 and RM180,000 to enrol in the classes.
One woman, who only wished to be known as Wong, said she saw an advertisement for the courses offered by the academy on Facebook.
“It looked legitimate, so I decided to sign up.”
Wong, who is in her 30s, said the academy even claimed that there was a waiting list for the aesthetician courses.
“I spent RM130,000 but the academy kept piling up the charges without me even starting the course,” she told a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong yesterday.
Another victim known as Lee said she had attended classes for two years, only to realise later that she had obtained a fake certificate.
“I spent more than RM100,000.The classes held by the academy were conducted in hotels.
“I have never actually seen the headquarters of the academy,” she added.
Chong said the academy had forged logos of a public university on their certificates to make them look genuine.
“I believe the university administrator is also aware and has already lodged a police report.”
He said that eight victims had come forward so far, which he believed was the “tip of the iceberg”.
These victims, he said, had lodged police reports as well.
He said the scam had ruined the women’s plans of becoming beauticians or aestheticians.
“We urge those who had similar experiences to come forward as soon as possible.
“We also hope the authorities can take immediate action on the matter,” he said.
Lawyer Esther Hor, who is representing the women, said she had checked with the public university and the Higher Education Ministry, and discovered that the certificates had indeed featured fake logos.
“We will be taking legal action against the academy,” she added.
