Parcel scam suspects nabbed in raids

JOHOR BARU: Police have busted a parcel scam syndicate with the arrest of six suspects, including four Nigerians, in a series of raids in Kuala Lumpur in the past few days.

Johor Baru (North) deputy OCPD Supt Beh Eng Lai said the suspects - three Nigerian men, a Nigerian woman and two Malaysian women, all aged between 25 and 42 - are believed to be responsible for similar cases in Johor and Kuala Lumpur.

He said police seized 12 mobile phones, 12 automated teller machine cards, three laptop computers and a car during the raids.

“We received a report that a 42-year-old local woman was cheated by the syndicate through a Facebook account in the name of Yusri Nabil whom she knew from Jan 2, 2016.

“The modus operandi was to scam people by telling them that jewellery, electronic items or cash would be sent to them as a token of appreciation for their relationship,” he said.

Supt Beh said that in this case, the woman was told that US$300,000 (RM1.24mil) would be deposited into her personal account but she first needed to pay RM115,427 in tax.

He added that the victim, from Taman Kobena, Tampoi, transferred the money to the suspect’s personal account on Jan 15.

“Several days later, she received a call from a courier service agent saying that a parcel had been detained by the Customs Department and she needed to pay more tax, also through the suspect’s personal account, to get the item released," Supt Beh said.

“Following the arrest, police managed to solve two parcel scams here," he said, adding that the syndicate is believed to be involved in similar cases in other places.