IPOH: An online gambling syndicate suspected of targeting Australians was crippled following the arrest of six men, says Comm Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin.
The Perak police chief said the suspects, aged between 22 and 31, were arrested during a raid on a terraced house in Kamunting, Taiping, at 8.05pm on Oct 20.
Preliminary investigations found that the syndicate had been operating since July, using specially created online platforms such as “One2bet-Aus”, “Roladoll-Aus” and “Majesty777-Aus” to promote gambling to Australians.
“The syndicate used Telegram and WeChat to communicate with customers, while Australian bank accounts were used to receive payments.
“The gambling packages ranged from A$30 (RM85) to A$200 (RM573), while Australian telecommunications lines were used through SIM cards found in the seized mobile phones.
“The syndicate supposedly used profile pictures of European women to attract customers,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Comm Mohd Alwi said police seized 18 mobile phones, 10 monitors and six CPUs, with the items valued at about RM35,000.
He said the six suspects acted as agents responsible for sourcing customers and promoting online gambling, earning between RM6,000 and RM10,000 a month.
He also urged the public to exercise caution when renting out residential premises or supplying communications equipment, as these could be used by such syndicates.
Police are still trying to determine how many Australians were tricked into signing up.
In a separate case, Comm Mohd Alwi said police had received 73 reports against a 31-year-old civil servant who allegedly cheated victims of nearly RM1mil in a wedding planning scam.
He said the man was charged in court on Sept 8 this year over the 2025 case.
He added that although police received 73 reports, the prosecution decided to proceed with only one charge against the man.
Comm Mohd Alwi said the other reports were referred to the Consumer Tribunal for further action, as the wedding ceremonies had yet to take place when the reports were lodged.
He said the man, who is attached to the Public Service Department, could also face departmental disciplinary action, including suspension.
The case gained traction on Threads after a post alleged that several couples had been cheated of money intended for their wedding.
The post’s author said they were trying to locate the man.
The post drew responses from several people claiming to be victims, who shared their experiences and the financial and emotional strain they had to endure.
