‘Datuk Seri’ and ‘Datuk’ con 126 in used car scam

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — A ‘Datuk Seri’ and  ’Datuk’ are alleged to have cheated 126 people into selling their luxury vehicles to them after claiming they are from a reputable company dealing in used cars. 

The duo, who introduce themselves as the chief executive officer and chairman of AX Motor, respectively, preyed on people selling their cars through popular online portal www.mudah.my. 

Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief DCP Datuk Law Hong Soon said they would introduce themselves as bosses of a company registered to carry out the selling and buying of used cars.

“Besides offering higher prices, they would offer to pay the outstanding hire purchase instalments to the banks and assist the sellers to change the vehicle ownership with the Road Transport Department,” he said. 

Law said the duo would also convince their victims by providing documentation like the bill of sales and undertaking letters stating the company would be liable for all transactions. 

“The victims would only realise they were cheated when they still received calls from their banks to pay their instalments,” he said.

They would also receive summonses under their names that were dated after their cars were sold to the duo. 

“The company did not change the ownership of the vehicles and when the victims request for their vehicles to be returned, the duo would offer them better prices,” he said.

Law said based on initial investigations AX Motor was not registered to sell second-hand cars but to sell car accessories. 

“Checks on their titles also revealed they were fake,” he said.

“The other board members of the company were in the dark about the scams as the duo managed the company’s business themselves.”

Law said the duo and another man were arrested in Kuala Lumpur on March 11. 

“We recovered 27 used luxury cars amounting to almost RM10 million and we estimate 101 vehicles are still out there,” he said. 

He said the men had been released on bail and police had forwarded the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

They are investigated for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.

Law also urged those who have bought vehicles from, or sold vehicles to, AX Motor to come forward to assist investigations.

They may contact the Kuala Lumpur police hotline at 03-21159999.