JOHOR BARU: Johor police dismantled an online scam operation yesterday following a raid on two houses used as illegal call centres, offering fake investments and job opportunities online.
The 6pm raids in the houses located in the state capital city yesterday also led to the arrest of 11 suspects, including foreigners.
Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar said nine foreigners including a woman, and two local men aged between 25 and 45 were arrested.
He said the raids on the premises was part of an ongoing investigation into sophisticated scams targeting international victims.
The premises had been converted into call centres to coerce their victims into investing in the fraudulent investments and employment, he added.
He said the syndicate operated both online scams concurrently. Some of its members targeted foreigners who were enticed into investing in non-existent investments, while others engaged their victims into taking up online positions in made-up establishments.
Their modus operandi was to focus on foreigners via social media platforms such as Facebook and Telegram.
They would also convince their victims to purchase international sim cards, while their alleged mode-of payment was via cryptocurrency.
It is learnt once their victims fell for their ruse, the syndicate members will instruct them to download a link to access their fake investment portfolio site.
Upon registration and making cash online deposits to several given bank accounts, the victims were able to see their investments reflected on the site valued in cryptocurrency.
Since the investments amount in cryptocurrency were made to seem as if they are based in real-time, victims eagerly increased their investments, but realised that they were duped after they were not able to make withdrawals.
Police seized 41 mobile phones, six laptops, ATM bank cards, modems, routers and a set of keys and access cards.
Police obtained a remand order to keep the suspects in custody to facilitate investigations under section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
