JOHOR BARU: Scammers are again taking advantage of the state's affordable housing scheme for quick money.
Johor police announced that the state had received 19 reports from May to October last year on victims who were purportedly offered deals under the scheme, resulting in losses totalling RM122,000.
State police chief, Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said "agents" approached the victims with offers to purchase homes from a 'Datuk' through the rent-to-own scheme that allows monthly payments as low as RM1,000 for homes worth RM500,000.
The interested parties will then be required to pay a deposit between RM3,000 and RM10,000 to proceed with the sale, he said.
"The victims only realised that they were duped after they didn't get a reply over the promised house units (from the agents). Their names (as buyers) were also not listed nor registered with the relevant agencies," he said in a statement last night.
Kamarul Zaman, however, said following an investigation that was wrapped up in October 2022, the police arrested a 55-year-old man suspected of carrying out the scam.
The suspect advertised the housing scheme - 'Rumah Mampu Milik Johor' (RMMJ) - to his contacts and received payments from agents.
"Investigation papers had been sent to the deputy public prosecutor's office, and the suspect was charged under Section 411 of the Penal Code for receiving stolen property by deceptive means early last month.
"If found guilty, the accused faces prison up to a maximum of five years, or a fine, or both."
He added that police investigation is still ongoing.
"The public should be more mindful when engaged in transactions on home sale and purchases especially when it involves deals that are too low to believe."
