JOHOR BARU: A high-paying job offer turned into a high-rise prison sentence when police dismantled a sophisticated scam operation in Johor, arresting 20 foreign nationals who were initially lured to Malaysia as “tourists” via social media.
Operating from luxury city apartments, these “tourists” were swiftly trained as scammers, impersonating customer service representatives to exploit vulnerable retirees in China, stripping their savings through intricate fraudulent investment and cryptocurrency schemes.
A police official said they uncovered the syndicate’s activities when officers from the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) raided at least three illegal call centres in Taman Molek and Johor Baru and detained 20 foreign nationals.
The suspects comprised 14 Chinese nationals, four Vietnamese and two Myanmar nationals, all of whom were aged between their 20s and 40s. Two of the suspects are women.
The official said initial investigations showed that each of them was promised a minimum salary of RM5,000 with additional commission whenever they managed to deceive a victim.
“In recent weeks, we have arrested more than 50 foreign nationals who prey on victims in China and Myanmar,” the official said, adding that most of the suspects nabbed did not have their passports with them, as they were being kept by syndicate leaders.
The syndicate had its own cook in one unit to keep suspects from venturing out to buy food, the official said.
Police also seized more than a dozen mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets in the three units.
The case is being prosecuted under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
All the suspects have been remanded to assist in the probe.
“We do not rule out the possibility of more arrests involving call centres in the coming days.”
The official also urged the public, especially those in condominiums and apartments, to alert the police if they noticed foreigners behaving suspiciously in their neighbourhood.
In another unrelated scam case, a technician claimed to have lost RM292,186.50 after he was hoodwinked by two individuals in a phone scam.
Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the 48-year-old victim received a call from an individual claiming to be an insurance representative.
“The call was then connected to a person impersonating a police officer who claimed that the victim was involved in money laundering activities,” he said, adding that the victim was also told a warrant had been issued against him.
He then made 32 transactions from Aug 18 to Nov 21, upon instruction from the suspect, as bail payment and inspection by Bank Negara.
“The victim only realised he was conned after the suspect was not contactable,” said ACP Raiz Mukhliz.
Meanwhile in MELAKA, a lecturer at a higher learning institution lost nearly RM1mil after falling for a non-existent investment scheme promoted on social media.
Jasin OCPD Supt Lee Robert said the 40-year-old married woman was led to believe she could reap quick profits through an online investment programme.
“She took loans from family members and even applied for bank loans, as she believed the scheme was genuine.
“She was enticed into transferring money into nine separate bank accounts from July this year, involving 20 fund transfers,” Supt Lee said, adding that the lecturer lodged a police report on Sunday after receiving no returns on her investment.
