Monday February 6, 2012

Retiree loses almost RM15,000 in remittance theft

PETALING JAYA: A retiree claims that he has lost almost RM15,000 wired to him through a remittance company after photocopies of his personal documents were used to withdraw the money.

V. Palanisamy, 59, said the money was a loan from his brother-in-law, who lives in Britain, for him to start a technical training institute in Seremban.

“The money is about a quarter of the start-up capital I need. I promised to pay my brother-in-law back within a year, and this has held up my plans,” said Palanisamy, a former technical trainer.

He received an SMS from his brother-in-law with details to collect the money totalling RM14,973.19 from a bank in Shah Alam on Jan 18.

However, the bank had problems with its phone lines and Palanisamy was referred to a nearby remittance agent instead.

There, he was asked to fill up some forms and photocopies of his MyKad were made.

“I was then told that I would be able to collect my money the next day.

“When I went back the next day, they told me that somebody had already withdrawn the money.

“They told me to check with the sender. After checking with the remittance company in Britain, my brother-in-law told me the money had been withdrawn at a branch in Puchong,” said Palanisamy, adding that staff members at the remittance agent were not forthcoming when pressed for information.

“The only people who took photocopies of my MyKad were these people. This is a clear case of swindling,” he told The Star.

Palanisamy lodged a police report on Jan 20 in Puchong and has also lodged a complaint with Bank Negara.

“If I needed to show my MyKad to withdraw my money, how could the money have been given to somebody with a photocopy?” he added.

A representative of the remittance agent said Palanisamy’s claims were being investigated and denied their involvement in the incident.

More News