KUALA LUMPUR: About 3,000 ATM cards held by suspected loan shark runners have been recovered following raids in Subang Jaya.
The operations on Aug 8 were conducted by the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), leading to the arrest of five suspects.
According to CCID director Comm Datuk Rusdi Md Isa, surveillance in the area led to the initial arrest of three people.
“Checks showed that they were working as runners for the loan sharks and were tasked with collecting the ATM cards.
“They were then instructed to use the cards to withdraw money for the syndicate,” he said at a press conference at the CCID’s headquarters here yesterday.
Comm Rusdi added that follow-up investigations led to a raid at their workplace in Subang Jaya on the same day, where two other suspects were arrested.
He said all the suspects nabbed were aged between 23 and 36.
Among the items seized during the operations were 2,924 ATM cards, RM119,977 in cash, 14 handphones and a router.
“It will take time to trace the owners of these cards. We will also have to work with the banks,” he said.
Investigations showed that the suspects were given orders by their “supervisor” via Telegram.
They would take the money out of the accounts using the ATM cards as often as twice a day, with withdrawals of around RM5,000 to RM8,000 on average.
“The money would then be packed and sent to a location via courier, or delivered personally.
“The suspects have been working for the syndicate for between six months and two years. They were paid between RM2,500 and RM3,500 a month.
“They have since been released on police bail following the end of their remand period.
“However, investigations are ongoing to identify the mastermind,” he said.
Comm Rusdi also said that 18 ATM cards were linked to scam activities, adding that the police will look into the matter further.
“If there is a need to freeze those accounts, we will,” he said.
Comm Rusdi also stressed that even legal moneylenders are not allowed to hold on to customers’ ATM cards or other private documents.
“The public must be aware that moneylenders are prohibited from keeping a person’s IC, passport, ATM cards or any personal documents,” he said.
