A new scam involving staged car accidents is preying on unsuspecting motorists, with victims being pressured into paying immediate "compensation" to avoid police involvement.
At a press conference on Tuesday (May 20), MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong revealed that the scheme is believed to be orchestrated by a couple in their late 20s, who allegedly deliberately cause minor collisions, then intimidate drivers into paying up to RM2,000 under the pretext of settling the incident privately.
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At a press conference on Tuesday (May 20), MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong revealed that the scheme is believed to be orchestrated by a couple in their late 20s, who allegedly deliberately cause minor collisions, then intimidate drivers into paying up to RM2,000 under the pretext of settling the incident privately.
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
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NewsTranscript
00:00A new scam involving stagecar accidents is targeting unsuspecting motorists, with victims
00:08being pressured into paying on-the-spot compensation to avoid police involvement.
00:14At a press conference on Tuesday, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk
00:19Sri Michael Chong said he had received at least 12 complaints from individuals claiming
00:24they were extorted after minor road mishaps.
00:28At the centre of the scam is a couple in their late 20s, believed to be staging deliberate
00:32collisions and then intimidating victims into paying up to RM2,000 in compensation to settle
00:38the matter privately.
00:41One victim, a 59-year-old woman known as Yim, recounted an incident in April when her sister-in-law,
00:48while making a turn at a T-junction, was hit by an SUV.
00:51The moment I saw that, I said, let's make a police report.
00:55You suggested, OK?
00:56Yeah, make a police report.
00:57She said, no, calm down, lady.
01:00Why don't you just, we just settle outside.
01:02I said, no, there's no way we can settle outside because your damage is huge.
01:07Just settle, just police report.
01:08She said, no, why don't you listen to me and then we negotiate.
01:11So I said, how much?
01:132,000.
01:14So we thought that at the end of the day, and of course, we thought that we are at fault
01:20because we come up from the side road.
01:23So I said, OK, since we have, again, they are rushing home to Penang.
01:29She attempted to protect herself by drafting a written agreement and asking one of the scammers
01:33to sign it with their details.
01:35However, she later discovered that the personal information provided was fake.
01:40Another victim, 46-year-old Chao, experienced a similar incident in Bandar Bukit Puchong
01:45while reversing her vehicle.
01:48The couple again demanded 2,000 ringgit, but she only paid 150 ringgit.
01:53Later, Chao learned that her friend had been targeted by the same individuals
01:57using the same vehicle and license plate.
02:01Suspecting foul play, she filed a police report.
02:04Chao urged the police to investigate the matter under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion.
02:11He estimated the scammers had collected at least 10,000 ringgit from victims, with total losses.
02:18The victim, not only have to pay, you know, why the victim's so angry, you know why?
02:25Because they have to claim their own car damage.
02:28And when the car damage, they have to claim insurance.
02:31After this, they lost the NCB.
02:34It is estimated that the victims had coughed up at least 50,000 ringgit cumulatively after repair works.
02:41Chao advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid making on-the-spot payments,
02:46and report suspicious incidents to the police.