Touch ‘n Go has published a reminder on social media, urging users to only purchase its cards through official channels. This follows news that a man had been scammed of more than RM23,500 after trying to buy four Enhanced NFC cards for RM32 last week.
The company reiterated that it only sells cards through the TNG eWallet app, TNG Service Centres at Bangsar South and NuSentral and at selected petrol stations. The full list of the latter can be found on the official website. Touch ‘n Go also previously sold the Enhanced cards through its official Lazada store, but currently only offers the RFID self-fitment kit.
It also reminded users that it does not do business through WhatsApp or Telegram chats, social media or other mediums. It added that users should ignore ads, sellers and pages on those platforms and report them to the company.
The Enhanced cards have been a prime target for scalpers ever since its launch last year, due to chronically limited stock that Touch ‘n Go attributed to the global semiconductor shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic. Within days of being announced, Shopee and Lazada were flooded by listings of the NFC card at exorbitant prices, sometimes breaching the RM100 mark. For context, the official retail price of the Enhanced card is RM10, plus a RM5 shipping fee if purchased through the eWallet app.
Unfortunately, it appears the cards are also being used by scam artists to swindle unsuspecting buyers expecting a good deal. That’s largely due to the convenience factor—the Enhanced cards feature an NFC chip that enables users to reload using an NFC-enabled smartphone and the TNG eWallet app. This allows them to completely bypass reload kiosks, petrol stations and convenience stores, which may levy a surcharge for reloads.
A reminder if you’ve been a victim of a scam—you can dial 997 within 24 hours and report to the National Scam Response Centre for a chance to get your money back. According to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, the NSRC will alert Bank Negara Malaysia, which will then move quickly to halt the outflow of funds. He added that since the hotline was set up in October, the centre has managed to recover RM1.3 to 1.4 million out of the RM12 million swindled.
