KUCHING: An alleged online loan scam has left a mother of three and her family fearing for their safety after they repaid about RM75,000 over loans that began with just RM300 but were later threatened with further demands.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau Chief, Milton Foo, who accompanied the 38-year-old complainant at a press conference at the party’s headquarters today (April 18), said the ordeal began around September last year after she clicked on a Facebook advertisement for a loan.
He said the woman downloaded an application from the Google Play Store, submitted her personal details, including a photograph of her identity card and a selfie, and applied for a RM300 loan.
Although she repaid the initial amount, Foo said unknown parties later continued transferring money into her bank account without her consent before demanding repayment with steep interest.
He said the first episode saw less than RM5,000 deposited into her account, but her husband ultimately paid about RM60,000.
The second round allegedly took place in February this year, shortly after Chinese New Year.
Foo said the woman received RM9,800 from 11 different groups, had already repaid RM15,000, but was still being pressured to pay another RM41,000.
He described the case as an online loan scheme used to trap victims in a cycle of intimidation and extortion.
“When the family could no longer afford further payments, the threats escalated,” he said.
According to Foo, WhatsApp messages were sent to the woman, her husband, father, mother-in-law and siblings, including threats against her children and family.
He said the messages, written in Mandarin, also included her personal details, identity card image and bank account information, which were circulated in an infographic sent to family members after a police report was lodged.
“The woman lodged a report at the Siburan Police Station on April 11 and was told by the investigating officer not to make any further payments and to block the numbers involved,” Foo said.
He added that the case is now under police investigation.
Foo also questioned how the suspects had obtained the contact details of the woman’s relatives, saying the matter pointed to a serious personal data security issue.
He urged the public not to apply for loans through suspicious online advertisements or unverified apps, warning that such schemes often begin with small sums but quickly spiral into threats, blackmail and severe financial losses.
“If money is banked into your account without your consent, return it to the original account and lodge a police report immediately,” he said.
