KUALA LUMPUR: Syndicates appear to be targeting differently-abled persons into working overseas and then demanding ransom from victims' families for their safe return.

       MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, said that scammers appear to have changed tactics and were now targeting those who are disabled.

       "This is the third such case in Pahang this year where the victim is a disabled person. Now we have seen cases that specifically target those away from the cities, and the disabled," he said.

       According to MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, the latest case involves a disabled man who was conned into flying to Myanmar to work.

       He said that the victim, 21-year-old Ng Chan Wai from Jerantut, Pahang, who is both physically as well as mentally disabled, had been working in Kuala Lumpur as a kitchen assistant.

       However in mid-April he suddenly informed his parents that he had already flown to Myanmar to work.

       The victim's father said that this news took the family by surprise and he even scolded his son over the phone for not telling anyone about it.

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       However, not long after that, the victim called his father and said that he needed money.

       "He requested RM2,000 so he could meet up with a friend that went to Myanmar with him. The money was banked into a local bank account on June 22," said Chong.

       More calls for money were later made to the family from unknown persons demanding larger amounts of money each time.

       In the last call, the caller threatened to sell the victim to another crime syndicate if the family did not pay RM70,000 by July 14.

       "These syndicates will ask for ransom but it's never guaranteed that you will get your child back even if you pay – and if you do pay you are emboldening other criminals to do the same with other victims.

       "We are currently working with Interpol on this and all we can do now is use the media to raise awareness," said Chong.

       He noted that such victims are not suited for menial and hard labour, which made it likely that they were duped for ransom purposes.