KOTA KINABALU – Several Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students here have reportedly lost thousands of ringgit to rental scammers.
In a statement, today UMS vice-chancellor Datuk Kasim Mansur warned its students to be careful not to fall for the scam, saying that the total loss from students involved now amounts to about RM30,000.
The issue arose when second-year students returning to the campus recently were not allotted hostels provided by the university.
As such scammers took advantage of the situation as many started looking to rent an apartment within the vicinity of the university’s campus.
The scammer would post an advertisement on social media and ask for a deposit to secure their rental, but the person would then block the students after payment is made.
“I urge the students to refer to UMS’s non-resident and student housing facility management centre (PNRF) for any arrangement relating to house rental to avoid becoming a victim of this scam.
“Students must personally check the housing before paying a deposit to avoid being cheated,” Kasim said.
He also said houses rented by students must also meet the minimum criteria – equipped with electricity and water supply, fan, toilet, and kitchen.
“We don’t want landlords to take advantage by renting out a house with incomplete and unsuitable facilities that would burden the students later,” he said.
He called upon house owners around the UMS’ campus who want to rent their houses or rooms to UMS students to contact PNRF so that they could identify legit landlords.
Interested house owners and UMS students can get information on rental houses here https://rumahsiswa.mohe.gov.my/ or contact PNRF at 088-320000 or email [email protected]. – The Vibes, October 5, 2022
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