Agents scam 400 with bogus projects in Banting, Klang

Selangor cops have received around 138 reports from at least 400 house buyers who claimed they have been cheated by five property agents by marketing non-existent projects around Meru in Klang and Banting, according to media reports.

The claims were lodged in Shah Alam, North Klang, South Klang, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Gombak and Serdang, noted Selangor Police Chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah.

"We have taken their statements and about 400 complainants claimed to have made their purchases through a housing expo in Kuala Lumpur in 2006," said Tun Hisan in a media conference.

"A check showed that the supposed projects in Meru, Klang and Banting do not exist at the mentioned location," he added.

The victims said "the developers' representatives brought the documents to their houses and asked them to sign before arranging for the bank loans," adding that they also paid 10 percent to the property agents and signed the agreement without the presence of their lawyers.

The cops will also investigate on the possible involvement of parties from local banks suspected to have collaborated with the so-called agents. Tun Hisan noted that six banks were identified to have approved loans for the non-existent projects.

He added that cops will also summon banks and developers under Section 420 of the Penal Code.