GEORGE TOWN: At first glance, it appeared to be a legitimate scratch-and-win contest, complete with purported certificates and licences claiming links to major casinos in Las Vegas in the United States.
After buying the cards, participants could find out whether they had won by watching live videos streamed on social media platforms.
Prizes ranged from US$2,000 (RM8,167.20) to US$2mil (RM8.16mil).
But there was a catch. Those who tried to claim their winnings were told to transfer money via a QR code to an account, purportedly to cover processing fees, taxes or insurance.
It was only after making the payment that victims realised they had been scammed.
Police busted the operation on Sept 22, arresting 29 foreigners – 19 Chinese nationals, one Cambodian man and nine Cambodian women – who were targeting victims in China.
Initial investigations showed that the suspects, aged between 20 and 63, had been operating from three bungalows in Teluk Kumbar and Bayan Lepas here for at least two months.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng said checks on the accounts linked to the QR codes found they were registered in Cambodia, with investigations ongoing.
Comm Lim said the bungalows had been converted into call centres to run the scam, with the suspects staying at the premises.
“We believe they had been operating for about two to three months, with each worker estimated to earn about US$2,000 (RM8,167.20) a month.
“The premises were rented for about RM10,000 a month,” he said.
Police seized 251 mobile phones, 17 laptops, two desktop computers and six sets of modems and routers, along with documents, customer records, scratch-and-win cards, certificates and studio and communication equipment.
Comm Lim said all 29 suspects were being investigated under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code for cheating and criminal conspiracy, and had been remanded until Oct 13.
