Beware of Potential Scam by TM, Maxis, Times Technician Internet Fibre

Hi everyone,

I’m sharing my recent experience with Maxis Business Fibre and a TM technician to warn others about a potential scam and unprofessional service that could put your business at risk. This happened at my store in Malaysia, and it’s not the first time I’ve encountered this scam tactic—something similar happened with Times Internet before. I hope this post helps others avoid these situations.[UPDATE 19/05/2025]: A Maxis Manager reached out today and clarified that the TM technician used his own fiber cable to offer a cheaper, more convenient fix at RM60, as a company-issued cable replacement would indeed incur a charge (though not necessarily RM200). While this explains the situation, the technician’s threatening behavior and lack of transparency, along with Maxis’ initial response, are still concerning.

A Maxis technician visited my store to fix an internet issue. They called a TM technician to assist, who replaced a cable to restore the connection. Afterward, the TM technician demanded RM60, refusing to provide an official invoice and insisting on cash or a transfer to his personal bank account. When I requested an invoice, he lied, claiming the company would charge RM200 if I insisted on official documentation. Since he couldn’t produce an invoice, it’s clear the RM200 charge was a fabrication to pressure me into paying. I declined, as I won’t pay without proper paperwork.[UPDATE 19/05/2025]: The Maxis Manager explained that the technician used his own cable to provide a quicker, cheaper fix at RM60, and there is a legitimate charge for company-issued cable replacements, which is why the Technical Department initially supported the demand. However, the technician’s approach was not transparent.

This isn’t the first time I’ve faced this. A while back, when installing Times Internet, the technician demanded RM80 and similarly lied that an official invoice would lead to a RM200 charge from the company. Again, they couldn’t produce an invoice, proving the higher charge was a scam tactic. It’s alarming that the TM technician used the same deceptive strategy to coerce me into paying without documentation.

The next day, the TM technician returned and threatened to remove the cable if I didn’t pay, which felt intimidating and raised serious safety concerns for me and my staff. Alarmed, I called Maxis Business Careline and spoke to someone from the Technical Department. To my shock, they instructed me to pay the technician’s personal account without an invoice and warned I’d need to hire an external contractor if I refused. This felt like they were enabling a potential scam!

Thankfully, I called the Careline again and spoke to Customer Service, who confirmed no payment was required for the cable replacement. The conflicting responses from Maxis’ Technical Department and Customer Service are concerning, and there was no way to verify the charges due to the lack of documentation.

[UPDATE 19/05/2025]: The Maxis Manager’s explanation clarifies that the RM60 charge was for the technician’s own cable, meant as a convenient alternative to a company-issued cable replacement, which carries a legitimate charge. I appreciate the manager’s outreach, but Maxis needs better oversight to ensure technicians communicate clearly and don’t pressure or intimidate customers.

This experience was distressing, disrupted my business, and made me feel unsafe due to the technician’s threats. The fact that I’ve now encountered this scam tactic with both Times Internet and TM technicians—using fake claims of higher charges to avoid providing invoices—suggests this might be a widespread issue. I’ve lodged a formal complaint with Maxis, but I’m posting here to warn others, especially small business owners, to:

• Always demand an official invoice/receipt for any service charges
• Be cautious of technicians demanding cash or personal bank transfers.
• Double-check with customer service if you get conflicting info from technical support.
• Report threatening behavior to the service provider immediately.

Has anyone else dealt with similar scams from TM, Maxis, or Times Internet technicians? How did you handle it? I’d appreciate any advice on preventing this in the future. Stay vigilant, everyone!