03/06/2025
🚨 **PUBLIC WARNING – POSSIBLE SCAM INVOLVING A RECURRING HOMESTAY GUEST**
As a homestay operator, I never expected to encounter a situation like this – and I feel it’s my duty to share this story as a warning to others in the short-term rental industry.
A guest who had stayed at my place several times before **asked to extend his stay** during his most recent visit. He claimed he had transferred **RM560** via IBG and sent me a **bank transfer receipt** as proof.
As I was managing multiple guests, I didn’t immediately check my account and assumed the payment was successful.
🔍 **But more than a week later, I checked my statement – and the money was never received.**
I reached out to him multiple times via WhatsApp and phone calls – but all were **ignored or left unread**.
And here’s the strange twist:
📩 **About a week later**, out of nowhere, he messaged me again – claiming that his **father was hospitalized**, and he needed to urgently pay **RM30,000 for medical treatment**.
He said he had RM27,000 and asked me to **“lend just a few hundred ringgit”**, promising to return it later.
Needless to say, I **refused immediately**.
🧾 I now suspect the original payment receipt was forged, and this may be part of a calculated scam pattern.
🧷 I’ve kept:
All WhatsApp messages
The suspicious bank receipt
His personal photo and company info
Screenshots of the loan request
📌 I will be filing a police report and considering further legal action.
This post serves as a community alert – especially for Malaysian homestay hosts and operators.
💬 If anyone else has encountered similar behaviour from this individual, feel free to message me privately.
📷 (Screenshots attached for awareness.)
Let’s help protect one another. Thank you.