Well-connected: Comm Ramli showing electronics and devices seized from the syndicate at a press conference to update on current commercial crimes. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have busted a group of programmers who are suspected to be responsible for managing computer systems to count the illegal profits of scam syndicates.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the bust took place on April 10 following a raid on a premises in Cheras.
“We believe this group had been active since March 24 based on our inspections and checks on the seized items.
“They were suspected of supplying record and accounting systems to calculate online scam profits on fake job scams targeting Chinese nationals,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Comm Ramli said checks also showed that the group served as programmers for the monetary management systems for online scam syndicates.
“They charged RM1,000 a month for the use of their systems.
“The suspects were also responsible for any issues related to the systems. As of now, they have sold this to five customers in China,” he said.
Comm Ramli said transactions were conducted using cryptocurrency, with the funds deposited into e-wallets prepared by the China-based bosses.
The raid also saw multiple items seized including four laptops, 10 handphones and RM3,122 in cash.
Seven Chinese nationals and a Vietnamese were rounded up during the raid.
Six of them have since been charged on April 16.
“The remaining two suspects were released,” he said. Another syndicate was also busted on April 12.
The raid, which was also conducted in Cheras, saw five people arrested, including three Chinese nationals over the operation of a call centre there.
The group is believed to be offering non-existing broadcasting services to China-based victims with packages of films and TV shows. Those arrested were found to have been acting as service agents to manage and record transactions for the syndicate.
“All transaction records were given via Telegram by other agents in the syndicate in charge of marketing,” Comm Ramli said, adding that they would target victims in China.
