MELAKA: Melaka police have busted an international job scam syndicate targeting victims from a Caribbean nation with the arrest of nine people, including four women.
State acting police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Md Nazri Zawawi said the syndicate’s modus operandi involved advertising fake job opportunities on Facebook.
Victims who expressed interest were then contacted by the syndicate members through WhatsApp or Telegram, he said.
They were then instructed to complete 32 tasks via a website, purportedly to increase reviews for hotels and movies in that particular Caribbean nation.
“After completing the first task, victims were persuaded to continue and required to make payment transactions to the syndicate.
“Each task promised commissions of US$70 to US$100 (RM310 to RM447). However, after making the payments, victims were not compensated as promised,” SAC Md Nazri said yesterday.
The syndicate, he added, was estimated to have generated a monthly profit of RM54,000 from its fraudulent activities.
During the raid, the police confiscated various items valued at about RM30,000.
A team from the Melaka Commercial Crime Investigation Department conducted the raid at a condominium in Taman Kota Laksamana here on Feb 7.
“The suspects were six locals and three Chinese nationals, aged between 26 and 43,” he said.
SAC Md Nazri said all nine suspects have been remanded for four days until today to assist in the investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
He also urged locals to be cautious of such scams and to verify the authenticity of job offers before engaging with potential employers.
