An Indonesian maid posed in her underwear for pictures that she hoped her female employer would put in the Indonesian version of Playboy. However, after complaining that she received no payment the woman was informed that it had been a hoax.

"It was a joke by the employer, but the maid took it seriously," said M. Ganesha, head of a complaints bureau run by the Malaysian Indian Youth Council, to which the maid turned for help in getting payment.

He told Reuters he would settle the dispute within two days and get the photographs returned, but declined to elaborate.

In Malaysia posing for nude photographs or taking nude photographs is illegal.