Fraud victims of Kota Raya shopping complex brawl 'speak up' for their rights

More fraud victims have come forward to speak up and claim their rights, following the brawl between several dissatisfied customers and several handphone sellers at Kota Raya shopping complex here on Sunday.

Assisted by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) employees, special counters were set up at the mall to aid them.

It was found that seven mobile phone premises on the ground floor of the complex were closed and the number of visitors have steadily dwindled.

A few victims claimed the the salesmen who tricked them used similar 'modus operandi' - which was to offer customers mobile phone worth of RM300.

A victim, who requested anonymity, said she paid RM300 for a mobile phone but did not realize that wasn’t the end of her transaction.

"After registering my name,the salesman gave me a receipt worth of RM899 for an Android, in addition to various other reasons totaling to RM1999 and in the end I had to pay a full amount of RM2,738," said the customer who preferred to be known as Jasmine.

"I was surprised with that drastic increase from RM300 to RM2,000. The salesman explained the price was for the telephone casing and the other price was for the phone. I continued explaining that I don’t have sufficient amount, however, my RM300 was not returned," she said.

An Indonesian victim identified as Vivienne, 43, said she was often cheated when she sends her phone to claim the warranty certificate for it.

"I was cheated because the salesman said my phone can no longer be repaired anymore but in fact it still had a warranty period of two years.

"The salesman said if I needed to fix the handphone, I should pay RM300 but I could not and instead I paid RM100. But the phone was still unusable and I felt cheated that I cried," she said.

For Redowan, 22, who hails from Bangladesh, said he paid RM600, was given a receipt but was told to wait for another three months before he can get the phone.

"The language barrier was the reason that I was cheated and I came back today (Tuesday) to claim my phone but the shop was closed. I made a complaint at the special counter set up by the ministry and requested that action be taken against them," said Redowan who had just arrived in Kuala Lumpur two months ago.

The counters operate at the complex daily from 10am to 11pm.