JOHOR BARU: Johor Perikatan Nasional (PN) public complaints bureau chief Lim Thow Siang claims to have received death threats from scammers active in this city and Singapore.

Lim, in his 50s, said he received the threat at 4pm on July 18, about three weeks after handling several cases related to scam complaints.

An unknown individual sent a WhatsApp message, stating that Lim's actions in assisting scam victims disrupted their activities.

The message threatened his safety, including a threat to "give him peanuts," which means bullets or shooting, and also threatened to burn down his office.

"I started helping fraud victims 18 years ago and have received minor threats before, but I continue to help to raise awareness.

"I do not rule out the possibility that the scammers are dissatisfied when I advise victims to ignore all threats received, including not paying the money or compensation demanded," he added.

Lim said that in the past three weeks, he had received five complaints related to scammers and had tried to help all the victims.

He lodged a police report at the Taman Desa Cemerlang police station on July 19.

Lim believes that his efforts to educate victims so that they are not intimidated by scammers' tactics to extort money have provoked anger.

He said most victims work in Singapore and fell prey after contacting scammers who masqueraded as registered money lending companies.

"Most victims do not borrow money but get trapped by the scammers' dirty tactics, who obtain personal information under the pretence of assessing loan eligibility," he added.

The scammers then force the victims to make payments as processing fees for loans, even though the applicants have not decided whether to take the loan or not.

They also threaten the victims' families, including burning their homes if they do not comply with their demands to pay thousands of dollars, including in Singapore dollars (SGD).

"Some pay the money repeatedly due to fear of the threats received," Lim said.

He said the scammers were becoming increasingly bold in threatening victims' safety, causing the victims or their families to relocate and face stress.

Lim hopes the authorities will continue to pursue the scammers and take appropriate action.

"After threatening the victims, I have now become their target because they are dissatisfied with my efforts to help the victims. I hope the crackdown on scammers will be carried out on a large scale," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/1080811/johor-pns-public-complaints-bureau-chief-receives-death-threats