Kedah police bust seven online scam syndicates, arrest 87

ALOR SETAR: Kedah police have crippled seven online scam syndicates, also known as calling centres, following the arrest of 87 individuals during integrated operations conducted in the first 10 months of this year.

Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the syndicates involved locals and foreigners from China, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, who were believed to have targeted victims both in Malaysia and abroad.

He said the arrests included 33 Chinese nationals, 15 Pakistanis, 8 Indians, 4 Bangladeshis and 15 Malaysians.

"The breakdown by gender showed that 75 were men and 12 were women. Investigations found that the syndicates targeted victims not only in Malaysia but also in several countries, including Thailand, Japan, China, Australia, India and Bangladesh.

"Their modus operandi included the misuse of financial transactions involving banking institutions, fictitious online lottery number offers, romance scams, fake part-time job offers and phone scams involving impersonation of enforcement officers," he said.

Adzli said police also seized various items believed to have been used in the criminal activities, with a total estimated value of RM300,000.

The items included mobile phones, computers, modems, routers, ATM cards, prepaid cards, SIM cards, monitors, enforcement agency uniforms, as well as various communication devices and documents.

"The discovery of these items indicates that the syndicates operated through organised and large-scale networks, while targeting victims across national borders.

"All those detained have been charged in court under various legal provisions, including Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code, as well as offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said.

Adzli said recent trends showed that online scam syndicates increasingly preferred abandoned hotels and resorts as operational bases because of their spacious premises, greater privacy and ease of control.

He said the premises were believed to have been used as call centres and accommodation for syndicate members.

He advised members of the public, particularly property owners, to alert police if they suspected their premises were being rented or used as online scam operation centres.

Police also reminded the public to remain cautious of calls from unknown numbers and not to readily trust individuals they encountered through online platforms.

Adzli advised scam victims to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 to enable early action to be taken to stop funds from being transferred out of their bank accounts.