KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled another Macau scam syndicate targeting victims in China and making off with more than RM3 million in less than three months.
The syndicate was using Malaysia as a base for their operations but their activities came to a halt when the City Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) stormed the premises, an apartment in Bandar Baru Seri Petaling, on Monday.
The department’s Assistant Commissioner Mohd Luthfi Ismail Abdullah said police arrested nine foreigners from China including a woman, and a local man, aged between 20 and 50.
Luthfi said the syndicate’s modus operandi was calling their potential victims under the guise of authorities such as the police and bank officers.
“They conned gullible members of the public by allegedly offering help to settle outstanding loans or fines, (requesting victims to) transfer certain amount of money to a bank account,” said Luthfi at press conference at the City police headquarters.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate has been active since April this year.
In the raid, police seized 52 mobile phones, 176 bank cards, RM814 in cash, and four log books documenting the transactions.
Luthfi said police will ascertain the number of victims involved including local victims. However, he said, a majority of the victims were from China.
Luthfi advised members of the public to deal directly with respective authorities instead of opting to communicate through phone calls to avoid from being conned.
The suspects have been remanded until Saturday to facilitate investigations.