Lorry driver scammed over luxury car seeks redress

JOHOR BARU: A lorry driver thought he got a good bargain when buying a luxury German car put up for auction on Facebook.

He said the car was priced at RM25,000, with monthly repayments of RM300.

He told the Johor Baru Consumer Claims Tribunal that he, however, never received the car after paying RM6,910 over three occasions.

The 49-year-old, who did not want his name to be revealed, said a person claiming to be an officer from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) had told him that the vehicle was a seized car; hence the bargain price.

“I transferred RM1,500 to his bank account as a booking fee for the car on Aug 28 last year,’’ he told the tribunal.

Upon receiving the money, the respondent informed the claimant that his car loan was approved.

The claimant was then directed to bank in more money to have the car registered and sent for inspection at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom).

He deposited RM3,910 and RM1,500 on Aug 30 and Aug 31 last year respectively to the respondent’s bank account.

“I called the respondent asking to inspect the car but he told me I could not do that as seized cars, unlike second-hand cars, were not displayed at a showroom,” the claimant recounted, adding that he was also told that it was impossible for him to view the car due to the movement control order in place at that time.

“The respondent later informed me that the car had been registered and inspected.

“He also said a runner would deliver the car to my place.”

The claimant said he did not receive the luxury car despite paying RM6,910 and the respondent also did not answer his calls or reply his messages.

When tribunal president Lee Chee Thim asked if the respondent was indeed a genuine JPJ officer, the claimant replied that he was not sure.

Lee ordered the respondent, who did not turn up for the hearings, to return RM6,910 to the claimant within two weeks.

Those who need the tribunal's help can call 07-227 1755/1766.

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