Cops bust 112 scam syndicates, detain 932 in nationwide operation

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have busted 112 scam syndicates operating through call centres and detained 932 people in a nationwide operation conducted from Oct 19 to 31.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said 153 raids were carried out during Op Magpie 01/2026, exceeding the initial target of 100.

He said police also conducted 650 proactive inspections of premises during the operation.

"Of the 932 people detained, 106 were Malaysians while 826 were foreigners. The arrests involved 796 men and 136 women.

"By nationality, Chinese nationals accounted for the highest number of arrests at 538, followed by Vietnam (93), Taiwan (40), Indonesia (36), Japan (21), Pakistan (18), Myanmar and the Philippines (14 each)," he told a press conference here today.

Rusdi said 106 of the 153 raids, or 69.28 per cent, were conducted at condominium residences, 34 at residential premises, eight at resorts or hotels and five at office buildings, shoplots and warehouses.

Initial analysis identified 136 records of scam modus operandi, with non-existent investment schemes and love scams accounting for 27 each, followed by phone scams (25), online gambling (16) and fake job offers (11).

The syndicates also targeted victims across national borders, with 130 of the 144 recorded target-country entries involving victims overseas and 14 in Malaysia.

China recorded the highest number of targets at 62, followed by the United States (12), Vietnam and Indonesia (seven each), and Japan and Hong Kong SAR (six each).

Police seized 2,058 mobile phones, 433 laptops or tablets, 161 computers or monitors, 112 routers or modems, 40 passports or visas and seven vehicles, along with various documents and equipment linked to the syndicates.

Cash amounting to RM102,635 was also seized.

Rusdi said 117 investigation papers were opened following the operation, with 70 still under investigation and 45 having reached the prosecution stage in court.

He said 809 of those arrested were identified as customer service personnel or operators, while another 70 were supervisors or team leaders.

Investigations were continuing to identify the syndicates' masterminds, operational coordinators and those responsible for managing their finances and providing facilities.

These efforts included digital forensic analysis, as well as examinations of communication records and financial transactions.

Police advised the public to beware of scams, protect their banking details and contact the NSRC on 997 if they suspected fraud.