KUALA LUMPUR: Four minors were among nine people detained for involvement in job scam activities via a website which resembled an e-commerce platform.
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said those arrested included two 14-year-old girls, two 16-year-old boys and five Chinese nationals aged between 14 and 40.
They were arrested during a raid at a residential premises used as a call centre for the syndicate in Sungai Besi here on Monday.
Ramli said that the four teenagers were no longer in school and were paid RM3,500 per month by the syndicate to work as call operators.
"All those arrested are believed to have roles as call operators and data managers at the call centre.
"Based on the investigation, the syndicate is suspected to have started operations around January this year and managed the Lehuigoua platform, which was used as a website resembling an e-commerce platform.
"This platform was promoted as a legitimate place to buy goods or services, but in reality, it was a front for a larger fraud scheme," he said at a press conference at the CCID headquarters here today.
Ramli said the syndicate targeted victims among Chinese nationals.
He said this platform claimed to collaborate with well-known e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, Tmall, and JD.com.
"Using their communication script, the syndicate claimed that victims had the opportunity to earn commissions from selling goods.
"Interested victims were added to a Telegram group where all communications and instructions were given," he said.
He said the promised commissions ranged from 0.3 per cent to 0.6 per cent, with the lure of high income often used as bait.
He said the investigation so far has also found that this syndicate had access to the victims' accounts on the platform.
"This allowed them to alter data such as credits and profits and often showed false transactions to gain the victims' trust," he said.
The police seized eight mobile phones, four laptops, five computer sets, a set of keys with access cards, a set of conversation scripts, a router and a suitcase.
He said five individuals arrested are currently remanded until July 26.
"The remaining four have been released on police bail. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code (for cheating and dihonestly inducing delivery of property)," he said.