KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor Immigration Department has uncovered a new tactic used by syndicate members who impersonate immigration officers to deceive employers, claiming they can secure the release of foreign workers detained during enforcement operations.
State Immigration director Khairrul Aminus Kamaruddin said the syndicate, which operates as a “middleman”, takes advantage of enforcement operations to exploit unsuspecting employers, Bernama reported.
“Every time we conduct an operation, there will be scammers or individuals who misuse the department’s name by calling employers and claiming to be Selangor immigration officers.
“This syndicate will request payment through the Touch ‘n Go app or in cash, on the pretext of securing the release of the detained foreign workers,” he told reporters after an enforcement operation in Pelangi Damansara, Petaling Jaya, on Thursday night.
He said employers pay between RM5,000 and RM10,000 for each worker, only to discover that the phone number used for payment was no longer active.
Khairrul Aminus said the fraudulent activity has been active since last month and caused losses of about RM57,000 to several employers.
He said the syndicate also used the names and photographs of real immigration officers to make the story more convincing.
Several police reports have been lodged, and the department advised employers not to deal with third parties for the release of their workers.
He said that if a foreign worker is detained, the employer must present the original documents for verification before the release process can be carried out according to legal procedures.
