Cops bust fake job syndicate that trafficked 238 Malaysians, six arrested

PETALING JAYA: Bukit Aman operations against human traffickers offering fake jobs overseas have led to the arrest of six suspects.

In a statement on Friday (Aug 19), police secretary Deputy Comm Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said a special operation was conducted with the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council (Mapo) and the Home Ministry on Aug 3, dubbed Op Pintas "Daya".

"As a result, we arrested six individuals, all locals. They are aged between 33 and 45 years old," she said, adding that several items such as modems and laptops were seized as well.

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According to police statistics, they have received 182 reports on Malaysians duped by fake jobs overseas for the whole of last year until Aug 18.

"These involve 238 victims, with 168 still overseas and 70 successfully saved.

"Questioning showed that all victims had been duped by job advertisements via Facebook that promised high-paying jobs as customer service officers.

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"Victims influenced by the offers would then contact the scammers via WeChat, WhatsApp or Messenger.

"Once the victims gave their consent, these agents would handle all travel matters and costs. However, once the victims reached their destination, their phones would be seized and travel documents destroyed," she said.

Their movements would be controlled while they were forced to work for scam and online gambling syndicates.

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"For victims still stranded overseas, we are working with the Foreign Ministry, Aseanpol and Interpol to trace and bring them home.

"Family members and friends of victims who have any information are urged to make police reports if they have not done so.

"Do not deal with the syndicates or with unknown people directly," she said.