00:00A scam syndicate allegedly rented an Airbnb unit and impersonated a legitimate property agent,
00:10cheating three Chinese students out of over 6,800 ringgit in deposits.
00:15Chia Chin Ken, 28, a real estate agent whose identity was misused,
00:20held a press conference on Monday with his principal, Leslie Lau,
00:24organized by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department Head, Datuk Sri Michael Chong.
00:54Chia Chin, 28, a real estate agent,
01:24and the phone number is added to the phone number.
01:26And the link card is not my phone number.
01:30And the IC and the company name is not correct.
01:32The phone number is actually opened a touch and go QR code.
01:38And the send it to the booking.
01:44The QR code is the real estate agent.
01:47The real estate agent is Gorirang and Property.
01:50The simple name is N.
01:52After receiving the payment, the agent would disappear.
02:04Chong said three Chinese students who lost between 800 and 6,000 ringgit
02:08sought help from his department last week.
02:22The victims only discovered the fraud when they tried to move in
02:37and contacted the legitimate agency.
02:40Both Lau and a real estate negotiator have also filed police reports.
02:44The department's legal advisor, James E., urged foreign students
02:49to verify property agents' credentials and tenancy agreements
02:52and to transact directly with agencies rather than wiring payments.
02:58You see so many fictitious information.
03:00We don't know which one is real, which one is fake.
03:02I also cannot ascertain which one is true.
03:06So we have to go back to the conventional, traditional method.
03:08The safest way, go back to this office, physically go and check these property agents,
03:19this office, whether we have this house, up for rent or not.
03:23That is the only way moving forward.
03:25We don't have a choice.
03:27Chong also noted ten similar cases last month,
03:30highlighting the prevalence of scams targeting international students.
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