KUALA LUMPUR: A 17-year-old girl who was allegedly scammed while trying to sell her online gaming account later turned to loan sharks for money, only to find herself facing further demands and harassment.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said the teenager, identified only as “Choy”, was approached online on Sept 28 by a person who offered to buy her gaming account for RM2,500.
Speaking at a press conference at Wisma MCA, Chong said the purported buyer instructed her to use a specific platform to receive payment.
However, after she allegedly entered incorrect details, the buyer claimed the funds had been frozen and demanded another RM2,500 to “unfreeze” the money.
Chong said the teenager then searched Facebook for loans and contacted three loansharks, borrowing about RM2,000 in total.
“However, she only received RM250,” he said.
He said the teenager’s guardian, her aunt, subsequently paid the three loan sharks a total of RM4,450 on Oct 9, more than twice the amount supposedly borrowed.
Despite the payments, the teenager continued to be harassed, prompting a police report on Oct 11.
Chong said the harassment escalated when red paint was thrown at the family’s home on Monday (Oct 19).
“One of the loan sharks also contacted the victim and claimed his bank account had been frozen following the police report.
“He is now demanding not only the so-called RM9,000 frozen in his account but also another RM6,000 in compensation,” Chong said.
Chong warned that scammers and loan sharks could be working together to trap victims in a cycle of debt and intimidation.
“They act as if there are no laws in this country,” he said.
