KUALA LUMPUR: Sixteen Malaysians allegedly linked to a transnational scam syndicate targeting Singaporean victims have been detained in a raid in Old Klang Road, says Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf (pic).
The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director said the 12 men and four women, aged between 23 and 42, were detained on Jan 13 at an office complex used as a scam call centre.
“All of them were charged under Section 120(B) of the Penal Code at the Jalan Duta Court Complex on Jan 16.
“The raid was conducted following an exchange of information between the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Singapore Police Force (SPF).
“We seized various items, including 36 mobile phones, five iPads, nine laptops, seven sets of documents, 10 vehicles and RM7,800 in cash.
“Investigations showed that the syndicate has been operating for about four months and targeting Singaporean victims,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Comm Ramli said investigations are underway to identify the number of scam victims and the losses.
“The syndicate members posed as Singaporean bank officers and contacted the victims.
“Victims would be asked to verify their credit cards and informed that there was suspicious activity involving their bank account as well.
“The victims would deny it and the call would then be transferred to another syndicate member posing as a police officer.
“The victims would be given various instructions on the basis of an investigation until they transfer money into a designated bank account.
“Cooperation between PDRM and SPF is not only for this operation but is continuous to ensure transnational crime involving both countries is dealt with more effectively,” he said.
In a statement on Jan 24, the SPF said their Malaysian counterparts arrested the scammers who masqueraded as bank officers of DBS, OCBC, UOB or Standard Chartered Bank.
The fraudsters would claim that a credit card had been issued in the victim’s name or that the bank had detected suspicious or fraudulent transactions involving a bank account.
The call would then be transferred to another scammer, this time pretending to be a police or Monetary Authority of Singapore official.
Further communication would take place on messaging apps and to maintain the ruse, the scammers would sometimes produce fake warrant cards or documents.
They would then accuse the victim of criminal activities such as money laundering, and get them to transfer money to bank accounts “designated” by the government for investigation.
Expressing his appreciation to his Malaysian counterparts, David Chew, the director of SPF’s Commercial Affairs Department, said both sides would continue cooperating and taking down transnational syndicates targeting Singaporeans.
