RECENTLY the police raided a syndicate involved in trafficking Malaysians overseas. They promised the victims good jobs with great pay but ended up pressing them into working for scam operations under armed guard.
Is this true?
Verdict:
TRUE
Police secretary Deputy Comm Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said in a statement on Friday (Aug 19) that a special operation, dubbed Ops Pintas Daya, was conducted on Aug 3 that saw the arrest of six individuals aged between 33 and 45, adding that several items such as modems and laptops were seized as well.
The operation, was jointly organised by the police, the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council (Mapo) and the Home Ministry, after authorities received 182 reports on Malaysians duped by fake jobs overseas from last year until Aug 18.
"These involve 238 victims, with 168 still overseas and 70 successfully saved.
"Questioning showed that all victims had been duped by job advertisements via Facebook that promised high-paying jobs as customer service officers.
"Victims influenced by the offers would then contact the scammers via WeChat, WhatsApp or Messenger.
"Once the victims gave their consent, these agents would handle all travel matters and costs. However, once the victims reached their destination, their phones would be seized and travel documents destroyed," she said.
Their movements would be controlled while they were forced to work for scam and online gambling syndicates.
She added that the police were working with the Foreign Ministry, Aseanpol and Interpol to trace and bring home the remaining Malaysians trapped overseas.
References:
3. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/08/17/more-awareness-drives-on-fake-overseas-jobs
