Report lodged over free-ads-for-donations scam

PETALING JAYA: A company, claiming to represent The Star, is offering free advertisements to local firms here if they make donations to a charity fund run by the publication for an orphanage.

The scam surfaced when one of The Star's advertisers received a letter inviting them to donate RM878 towards the fund. In return, they would get free advertising insertions for 26 days.

But on checking with The Star, the advertiser found there was no such fund.

On Friday, The Star lodged a report at the district police headquarters here on the fake offer and fund.

“We believe the company had used the publication to dupe advertisers. There is no such offer or fund,” said Star Publications (M) Berhad advertising and business promotions general manager Calvin Kan.

In the letter issued by the Petaling Jaya-based company, it stated that the funds collected would be channelled towards building a dining hall for the Federal Territory Orphanage Association. The dining hall was supposed to cost RM130,000.

Attempts by The Star to contact the telephone numbers listed on the letter went unanswered.

The Star