GEORGE TOWN: Police arrested 29 foreign nationals following three raids on bungalow premises in Teluk Kumbar and Bukit Belah, Bayan Lepas, on Sept 22 in connection with an online “scratch-and-win” scam.
Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim said the suspects comprised 19 Chinese nationals – 18 men and one woman – and 10 Cambodians – one man and nine women.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 63, were arrested during the three raids at bungalows conducted by the state Commercial Crime Investigation Department.
"The first raid at a bungalow in Teluk Kumbar resulted in the arrest of 14 Chinese men.
“The second raid, also in Teluk Kumbar, saw seven suspects arrested – three Chinese men, one Cambodian man and three Cambodian women.
“The third raid at a bungalow in Solok Bukit Belah resulted in the arrest of eight suspects – two Chinese men and six Cambodian women,” he said during a press conference at the state contingent headquarters on Thursday (Oct 1).
Lim said the syndicate was believed to have used Facebook to promote scratch-and-win cards, with victims shown attractive prizes after participating.
“The victims would then be asked to make payments through QR codes to bank accounts, purportedly for processing fees, taxes or insurance.
“However, when they tried to claim the prizes, they could not withdraw the money,” he said.
Police seized 251 mobile phones, 17 laptops, two desktop computers and six sets of modems and routers, as well as various documents, customer records, scratch-and-win cards, suspected fake licences or certificates and studio and communication equipment.
All 29 suspects had been remanded until Oct 13 and were being investigated under Section 420 and Section 120B of the Penal Code for cheating and criminal conspiracy.
They were also being investigated under Sections 6(3) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
