Unlicensed maid agency fleeces five customers

KUALA LUMPUR: Five victims have fallen prey to an unlicensed employment recruitment agency that allegedly scammed them out of nearly RM100,000 in fees for domestic workers or maids. Bryan Yee, one of the victims, shared that he lost approximately RM18,000 to the agency.

“I came across the agency’s advertisement on Facebook offering domestic workers in November of last year,” Yee mentioned during a press conference held at Wisma MCA yesterday, led by Datuk Seri Michael Chong, the head of MCA Public Services and Complaints Department.

In February, Yee decided to engage their services and paid RM8,000 for a domestic worker. However, the worker provided by the agency turned out to be unsatisfactory and eventually ran away, Yee added.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong on press conference at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. – FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

Prior to running away, Yee discovered that the worker had stolen his wife’s undergarments. “We paid her salary through the agency, but later found out that the agency failed to pay her, leading to her escape,” he explained. In an attempt to compensate for the loss, the agency offered Yee an opportunity to invest in their company. Trusting the promise of a RM3,000 profit, Yee transferred RM10,000 but received no refund or return on investment in the following months.

Deniss Low, another victim, saw the agency’s advertisement on Facebook and ended up paying a total of RM22,000 to secure a domestic worker. Low expressed her disappointment, saying, “Despite agreeing on a monthly salary of RM2,300 for the maid, the payment was made through the agency. I discovered that the agency did not even remit the maid’s salary, and unfortunately, none of the maids were satisfactory in their services.”

Low demanded a refund, but the agency constantly delayed addressing the matter. “Eventually, I was unable to contact the agency. In June, they posted a notice claiming bankruptcy and assured customers that lawyers would handle refunds in July. Sadly, none of this materialized,” she shared. Low took it upon herself to warn others through a Facebook post, prompting the agency owner to privately message her, asking her to cease her warnings in exchange for a refund. She hopes that the authorities will take appropriate action against the agency.

These five victims have all filed police reports against the agency, with a combined loss of RM96,000. Datuk Seri Michael Chong stated during the press conference, “We believe there may be more victims of this unlicensed agency. Their modus operandi involves providing domestic workers who eventually run away, leaving customers without any recourse. Typically, these workers disappear after approximately three months. It is essential for the public to only engage with legitimate and licensed recruitment agencies.”

President of the Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia (Papa), Datuk Foo Yong Hooi, warned that such illegal agencies tend to target individuals desperate to hire domestic workers. He advised, “Since these unlicensed companies operate without proper permits, most of the domestic workers they provide probably lack valid documents. There are over 600 qualified companies that offer domestic workers. Interested parties should consult the Labour Department’s website for the official list.”