All Aboard The Fraud Express: Bogus School Bus Service Rides Across Malaysia
The fraudster contacted victims through anonymous Facebook accounts, offering seemingly legitimate transport services at reasonable rates of RM270 per month.
Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter, or Telegram and WhatsApp channels for the latest stories and updates.
A female scammer has been targeting parents across Malaysia by posing as a school bus operator, collecting deposits and monthly fees before attempting to borrow additional money from victims.
The scam came to light after Kajang municipal councillor Dickson Tan‘s sister fell victim to the scheme while searching for school transport services on Facebook ahead of the new school term starting in mid-January.
The scammer contacted Tan’s sister through an anonymous Facebook account, offering school bus services at RM270 per month for a 10-minute journey from their home – a rate that appeared reasonable to the family.
Following standard practice, the scammer requested a deposit plus one month’s fees upfront to secure a seat, totalling RM540 – the victim complied with the request.
Two days after payment, the scammer provided a professional-looking invoice.
However, she then claimed her son was ill and requested to borrow RM150 for medical expenses.
Tan’s sister refused the loan request but became suspicious when she discovered other parents in Facebook school transport groups sharing the same phone number, with services allegedly covering areas including Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, and Petaling Jaya.
明年1月中旬是新学年开课，家长急寻校车服务，女骗徒看准时机冒充行业行骗，凭一招“骗”布全马！https://t.co/hs1LIc5DuP
— Sin Chew Daily 星洲日報 (@SinChewPress) December 5, 2025
Red Flags Emerge
When confronted about the widespread complaints, the scammer claimed competitors were deliberately slandering her.
Despite this explanation, the scammer made a second loan request for RM100, which confirmed the victim’s suspicions and prompted her to demand a refund.
Tan said his sister initially did not suspect the anonymous account because it was common practice on Facebook.
The pricing and service area also seemed legitimate.
Parents are advised to verify transport operators through official channels and be wary of any requests for loans or additional payments beyond agreed service fees.
Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Threads.
