Victims cry fowl over RM3.2mil ‘ayam kampung’ investment scam

KUALA LUMPUR: An "ayam kampung" (free-range chicken) investment scam, which duped victims of more than RM3.2mil, has been busted with the arrests of 11 individuals.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the suspects - eight men and three women - aged between 38 and 56, were detained following raids in Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Terengganu and Labuan on June 26.

"The investment was run by an NGO.

"Those detained were the founder, director, secretary, clerk, agents as well as volunteers of the organisation," he told a press conference on Friday (July 12).

Comm Ramli said the syndicate, which has been operating since early last year, would offer schemes to invest in the poultry business.

"The minimum investment is RM250 with returns of RM13 a month or investors have the option to receive a chicken instead of monetary returns.

"However, investors stopped getting their returns since September last year.

"A total of 85 police reports were made nationwide involving RM3.29mil in losses," he said.

Various items were seized, including 13 luxury vehicles, 13 gold necklaces, two gold rings, 20 mobile phones, 17 laptops, 71 documents and 17 banners, he said.

"A total of 34 bank accounts and unit trust funds worth RM6.5mil were also frozen and 2,143 goats were seized.

"The vehicles seized were worth RM2.9mil," he said.

Comm Ramli said the operation was possible with the collaboration of the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) and other agencies including the Inland Revenue Board, Bank Negara and CyberSecurity Malaysia.

"We will continue to conduct operations to curb such scams.

"We hope the public can be more vigilant and not be duped by such investment offers. If it's too good to be true, it is most probably a scam," he said.