SEKINCHAN, Dec 29 — A woman claims she was deceived into losing RM80,000 by a man who impersonated the son of state executive councillor for local government and tourism cum Sekinchan state assemblyman Dato' Ng Suee Lim, using the pretext that he could help her apply for government financial assistance.
The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, went to the Sekinchan State Constituency Service Centre to seek help after the incident on Tuesday (December 23).
She said the incident happened at 9.30am while she was at Sekinchan Market, when two unknown men approached her. One of them introduced himself as Ng’s son, named "Ng Kok Min".
“They asked whether I still recognised him. Although I ignored them, both men followed me home and continued talking, asking about the amount of my savings.
“They claimed the government had an assistance scheme that would be distributed based on an individual’s savings. They told me I had savings of RM80,000 and was eligible to receive RM40,000 in government aid,” said the woman.
She added that both suspects later took her to a bank in Kuala Selangor to withdraw the money, with one of them, who was wearing a face mask, accompanying her as she got out of the vehicle.
“He also instructed me to tell the bank that the money was being withdrawn for my child’s wedding preparations if I was questioned,” she said.
After withdrawing the money, the victim was taken to another bank and the vehicle was parked some distance away. One of the suspects exited the car, supposedly to handle matters, while the victim was asked to wait inside the vehicle.
“After waiting for quite some time, and the suspect did not return, the other man invited me to go into the bank to enquire. However, as soon as I got out, both of them disappeared.
"When I returned to where the vehicle had been parked, only then did I realise I had been cheated,” she said.
Commenting on the matter, Ng stressed that the individual using the name "Ng Kok Min" is not his son, as none of his children were in the vicinity at the time of the incident.
“I have contacted the police regarding this case and hope the suspects will be arrested soon and that the victim’s money can be recovered,” he said.
Ng also expressed sympathy for the victim and strongly condemned the inhumane actions of the fraud syndicate involved.
“I would like to remind the public that neither the Federal government nor the state government has ever introduced any savings return scheme as claimed.
“If anyone asks for personal information under the pretext of registration or participation in a welfare scheme, or uses my name, please first refer to the state constituency service centre, councillors, or village heads to avoid becoming a victim of fraud,” he said.
