KUCHING: A woman identified as Miss Lai was shocked to learn that she had been sued in Johor over a Touch ‘n Go account she never opened.
According to the claim, the Touch ‘n Go account under her name allegedly received RM15,069.20, which was charged to the credit card of an individual from Kuala Lumpur.
Special Assistant to Chong Chieng Jen, Michael Kong said Miss Lai confirmed she had never activated any Touch ‘n Go account.
“In fact, when she recently planned to travel to China, she attempted to open one but was unable to do so. At that time, she did not think much of it and let the matter rest,” he said.
Kong added that Miss Lai only realised the seriousness of the issue upon receiving the Writ and Statement of Claim.
“We have since been in contact with the plaintiff’s lawyers and also Touch ‘n Go in hopes of resolving the matter amicably,” he said.
He pointed out that the incident raises serious concerns about possible fraud or misuse of personal data.
“How did the credit card transaction go through when the cardholder did not authorise it? How was the Touch ‘n Go account created without the individual’s authorisation or verification?” he questioned.
Kong said these facts suggest a potential case of fraud or data abuse. He has assisted Miss Lai in lodging a police report and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation, warning that others might also have fallen victim to similar schemes.
“Bank Negara Malaysia and Touch ‘n Go must look into possible loopholes in their systems and take immediate steps to strengthen consumer protection,” he said.
He also advised the public to regularly check their bank and e-wallet accounts, ensure no suspicious accounts are linked to their personal information, and act immediately if they notice any unauthorised transactions.
By Connie Chieng