Bukit Aman sets up special task force to tackle job scams

Wong (middle) shows his wound, which was used by the syndicate, to the senior police officer (left) and Datuk Seri Michael Chong (right).

PETALING JAYA: Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department has set up a task force to investigate job scam cases and take action against the illegal groups, says Datuk Seri Michael Chong.

The MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head said the police would be cooperating with the Asean Chiefs of National Police (Aseanapol).

Chong, together with his assistant Cherry Chang and MCA National Youth executive secretary Goh Boon Huat, met five senior police officers from the task force on Wednesday (July 20) to discuss the spike in job scam cases.

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Chong added that he has received a total of 85 cases until July 20 and a total of 67 police reports have been lodged by victims' family members.

“The senior police officer from the task force said they will investigate all the reported cases.

“The officer also mentioned that most of the family members received calls from the syndicate demanding ransom to save the victims.

"In some of the cases where the ransom was paid the syndicate still refused to release the victims,” he said in a statement on Thursday (July 21).

“I have organised nine press conferences since March to raise awareness of such scams but we are still receiving many reports.

“Nowadays, the illegal groups will not use Cambodia or Myanmar to recruit anymore, but lure the public to go Dubai or Singapore with high salaries.

“After they go to those countries, they will be transferred to other countries such as Cambodia or Myanmar for fraudulent work,” he said.

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Chong also said several victims, especially those who faced the problem of loan shark cases, would choose to work abroad so that they might earn more money to settle their debts.

“The task force will also work closely with all the related authorities so that they can take action against these syndicates as soon as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chong said a victim who wished to be known only as Wong had just returned to Malaysia from Cambodia on July 9.

“Wong said that if he was unable to reach his targets, he would be beaten up and tased by the syndicate.

“He said syndicate members used a taser on him around 50 times, sometimes twice a week... he would sometimes faint because of the pain," he said.

Chong urged the public not to trust job advertisements that seem too good to be true. He also hoped that these syndicates would be punished by the law soon.