Two engineers fleeced in dispenser scam

Two engineers fleeced in dispenser scam
By YEE XIANG YUN
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Saturday August 7, 2010

JOHOR BARU: Lured by high returns, two engineers applied for nine credit cards between them and invested a total of RM42,000 in a get-rich-quick scheme – only to find that they had been fleeced.

K. Thorajoo, 32, and Lee Poh Kheong, 39, who were lured by the attractive profit figures presented by a water dispenser company even used up all their life savings.

Lee, coaxed into signing a contract at the company’s office in Taman Molek at the end of last year, said he was so convinced about the tempting offer that he persuaded Thorajoo to invest in it also.

“The company promised us a lucrative profit of at least RM1,000 per month, but all we earned was RM200 per month.

“After a few months, I sensed something was amiss so I called the sales representative about my money and he even scolded me for being unreasonable,” Lee said, adding that he later found the office had ceased operations two months ago.

Thorajoo, a father of one, said he did not even receive the water dispensing machine after paying such a hefty amount.

He said their contract required them to pay the company RM1,400 monthly for the rental of the machine, but he stopped paying after three months when he did not receive the keys to his machine.

“I am now in debt for about RM15,000 and I hope the banks will be lenient and understand our situation,” Thorajoo told reporters during a press conference organised by Johor Baru MCA public complaints bureau deputy chief Michael Tay here.

Tay urged the public not to be so gullible as to sign up for such schemes.

Seri Alam OCPD Supt Roslan Zainuddin, confirmed both men had lodged reports and requested anyone with information to call the police hotline on 07-2212999 or the nearest police station.