KUALA LUMPUR: Police are monitoring international fraud syndicates scamming victims by cheating, including via dubious cryptocurrency investment schemes.
Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf, the director of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) of federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman stated the syndicate, behind the so-called "Pig Butchering Scam", had been linked to losses by victims amounting to US$75 billion.
When contacted by Harian Metro, Ramli said the syndicate was operating in Southeast Asia, using former casino sites as their operational bases.
"The scam is spreading rapidly and is causing global concern," he added.
Ramli said Malaysian police were liaising with other agencies abroad, especially the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol and their counterparts in Southeast Asian countries to prevent the syndicate involved from spreading its tentacles to Malaysia.
"The CCID has been invited to join the UNODC Emergency Response Network (ERN) based in Bangkok, Thailand.
"The ERN is an agency established to address issues of Human Trafficking involving 'Pig Butchering' in Southeast Asian countries.
"ERN will also serve as a platform for information sharing and research cooperation among law enforcement agencies in member states.
Ramli added that the periodic meetings between UNODC, CCID representatives, and law enforcement officers from Southeast Asian countries were expected to be held in May, July and October this year, and in January 2025.