Lured By Creamy Flesh Millions Lost In Musang King Durian Scam

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Hundreds of Malaysians are believed to have lost millions of ringgit after being duped into investing in a marketing scheme involving Musang King durians in a foreign country. - File picKUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds of Malaysians are believed to have lost millions of ringgit after being duped into investing in a marketing scheme involving Musang King durians in a foreign country.
The investment, which was promoted as capable of generating extraordinary profits, has not provided any returns, despite claims of a convincing business model, Berita Harian reported on Monday.
Investors were persuaded to invest hundreds of thousands of ringgit, taking advantage of the popularity of Musang King durians in many countries, particularly China.
They were also lured by claims that demand for durians in some countries was so high that even the Malaysian government was said to support the marketing of the "king of fruits".
One investor, known as Chin, claimed he and his friends pooled capital of up to RM200,000 into the scheme, with promises of nearly 50 per cent returns in just a few months.
However, he said they have yet to receive any profit and have not even recouped their original investment.
"We were promised by the agent that demand for Musang King in several countries, including China, was extremely high and that the company needed investors to expand their business.
"My friends and I pooled hundreds of thousands of ringgit after becoming convinced the investment was legitimate, as the business indeed existed in that country. In fact, we saw firsthand how the company operated there," he said.
Musang King is a premium variety of durian known for its rich, creamy texture and bittersweet flavour, making it one of the most sought-after types of durian in Asia.
Chin said Musang King durians are well-received in countries like China and Taiwan because they are considered among the best types of durians.
"People over there are very fond of Malaysian durians and are willing to pay high prices if they are Musang King.
"That's why we felt it was worthwhile to invest, as we were confident we'd see substantial returns. But to this day, we have yet to benefit," he said.
Another investor, Andrew, 42, said he was persuaded to invest after seeing the company's marketing and Musang King products being sold overseas.
"When I invested last year, I believed the company was reputable based on the promotions and marketing being carried out, including export contracts to send the fruit to China. Malaysian durians are also very famous overseas, to the point that local producers are unable to meet demand," he said.
Thian, 48, said he did background checks but was still caught off guard.
"At the time, I believed the company and the investment were very legitimate because I checked with several relevant authorities.
"Initially, I invested around RM10,000, but increased the amount due to pressure from the agent.
"My total investment has now exceeded RM100,000, and the agent claims there are issues hindering the marketing of Musang King abroad," he said.
He added that the agent later cited problems with durian farms in Raub, Pahang, which had been raided by authorities for encroaching on government land.
Police regularly warn the public to be cautious of scams, particularly those that promise high returns in a short time. - NST

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