These seaside apartments were a ghost city - then police say scammers moved in

Malaysia's Forest City, an ambitious $100 billion mega-project unveiled by Chinese developers in 2016, was once pitched as a dream paradise for up to 700,000 residents. However, a decade later, only around 1% of the 14-sq-km island is occupied. Rows of empty skyscrapers and quiet streets now characterize the area. In July, Malaysian police raided two suspected scam operations in Forest City, arresting 335 people and seizing assets worth approximately £181,810 (£245,000).

These operations targeted investors abroad with cryptocurrency and love scams, according to police. The arrested individuals include 309 Chinese nationals, 19 Indonesians, three Malaysians, and four Myanmar nationals. Police believe these criminals may have originated from Cambodia, a hub for transnational scams. As the Cambodian government cracks down on these operations, the Forest City scam hubs seem to have taken on a more professional and multinational corporate-like structure.

Local residents and experts attribute the rise of scams in Forest City to its reputation as a ghost city, with fewer than 5,000 residents despite claims of 23,000. The project's downfall, marked by the coronavirus pandemic, China's property slump, and strict borrowing limits, has left it an attractive target for scammers.