GEORGE TOWN: The Macau Scam syndicate, which has raked in some RM27 million in profits since 2016, has been busted in Penang.
The syndicate operates from rented houses and uses telephones and telecommunication devices to mostly target professionals.
State police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan said today that the syndicate’s modus operandi involved calling prospective victims on cell phones and pretending to be bank officers, policemen, court officials and debt collectors.
“The syndicate usually uses the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which displays the numbers of agencies and departments to fool victims,” he said, adding that victims would be told that their bank accounts would be frozen if they did not make certain payments.
He said, in the most recent incident, police had detained syndicate members, masterminded by Taiwanese, in a raid on a bungalow in Bukit Jambul on Tuesday.
He said the raid, carried out jointly with Thai police, had led to the arrest of two Taiwanese men and eight Thai nationals – three men and five women in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
“The syndicate targets Thai nationals as well, as they move from one state to another to avoid detection,” said Thaiveegan.
“Police seized cell phones, computers, bank account books and other items.”
The suspects have been remanded for 14 days to assist in investigations.
