By PK Leong
KUCHING, June 14, 2017: Co-chair of Pakatan Harapan
Sarawak Youth Dr Kelvin Yii has urged the public to be on alert of the growing
cases of scams in the State as well as not to fall prey to financial schemes
promising unrealistically high returns in a short period of time.
Dr Kelvin Yii helping scam victims lodging police report at Sungai Maong this morning.
"We have received multiple complaints from the
public regarding a certain scheme which entices the public to purchase a
machine which they claimed will provide the ‘fastest internet connection’ and people can access it with a minimal
payment of RM1 per hour," he told reporters after assisting a group
victims lodging reports at the Sungai Maong police station today.
He said the victims claimed that the agent, purportedly from West Malaysia, has dangled attractive benefits and high returns to entice them to purchase these machines and join this scheme.
He said they were promised that the machines will be
placed in strategic locations, especially in education institutions like
Swinburne University, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching Politech and even in
schools.
Yii, who is also
special assistant to Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament, said the agent
claimed that these machines can provide internet connection over a radius of
150 metres and that users can access the connection even when they go for their
classes.
"The victims were then made to part with close to RM
30, 000 each for the machine with the promise that they will receive it within
90 days.
"However, many have not received these machines even
after more than 6 months and attempts to contact the agent in-charge has so far
failed," he said.
Earlier, victims
of the scheme who have received the machines, claimed that the machines are
faulty and do not provide the required services as promised.
He said they claimed that the internet connection was
slow and could only be access if they stood next to the machine, in contrast to
the promised 150 meters radius.
"Some of the victims informed us that they took bank
loans just to raise the required RM30,000.
"Now they have no choice but to pay back the loan
including the interest even though they have not received the promised
machine," he said.
Yii urged the victims, who have yet to lodge police
reports, to do so without delay.
He also urged them to lodge reports with the relevant
authorities including Bank Negara Malaysia(BNM) to carry out their
investigation.
"I would like to advise the public to be more
careful with regards to any financial schemes that promises unrealistic high
returns," he said.
Yii said they should make the necessary research as well
as check the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM’s Financial Consumer Alert, which lists
companies that are neither authorised nor approved under the relevant laws and
regulations administered by the central bank.
"I would also like to encourage those who have
fallen to such schemes to come forward and we will gladly assist them in the
matter," Yii said.
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