Xiao by Crustz, a local dessert shop in PJ and KL, issued a public service announcement warning about a former employee alleged to be a scammer.

On Instagram, the shop's founder, Xiaoly, revealed they hired a part-time worker in his 40s from East Malaysia through a hiring app for their KLCC pop-up outlet.

"He appeared very friendly, helpful, and generous, and shared very detailed life stories with colleagues," she wrote.

After the KLCC pop-up ended, the employee continued working at their PJ outlet, claiming extensive experience in management, particularly in the oil and gas industry.

"He claimed to have worked 20+ years at ExxonMobil and was now doing gigs like this part-time job as a pastime," said Xiaoly.

The founder mentioned they didn't feel the need to verify his credentials or resume since he was only a part-timer. However, suspicions arose over time.

The former employee was overly generous with colleagues, often treating them to meals and giving free items. He created an illusion of wealth, claiming to own luxury homes and cars and have great connections. Despite this, Xiaoly noted she never saw him drive a luxury car.

He shared personal details with colleagues to gain their trust. However, things took a turn when some colleagues found detailed information about him on an online forum.

The forum documented the man's alleged scams since 2018, including stealing personal information, peeking at ATM pins to empty bank accounts, impersonating a FedEx CEO, faking recruitments and business dealings, and owing people significant amounts of money. Despite numerous police reports, no action had been taken against him.

According to the forum, he used different guises and shared stories about his family to fit his scam narratives, conning people into giving him money by gaining their trust as a friend. The forum estimated he had earned close to RM1 million through his scams.

Xiaoly concluded that, aside from false documentation and claims, thankfully, no major damage was done to their business. The man has since been terminated.

"However, we are worried he is now targeting the F&B industry based on his experience with us. We believe he is conducting several scams simultaneously, so we want to warn other potential victims," she added.

For placing orders with their shop, she advised using their website, official numbers, or official emails.