US$2m ‘scratch and win’ scam busted in Penang, 29 arrested

The Penang police have successfully dismantled an international 'scratch and win' scam that targeted victims primarily in China and Cambodia, arresting 29 foreign nationals in a coordinated operation on September 22. The suspects, aged between 20 and 63, were apprehended in three raids across Barat Daya, with the first raid in Teluk Kumbar resulting in the arrest of 14 Chinese men with no travel documents.

The syndicate, believed to have been operating for two to three months, rented bungalows for RM10,000 a month and converted them into call centres, targeting victims via Facebook Live and the LINE application. The scheme promised prizes of up to US$2 million, but victims were required to make QR code payments for processing fees, taxes, and insurance, receiving nothing in return.

Police seized various equipment and documents, tracing the flow of funds and identifying the syndicate's operations. All 29 suspects have been remanded until October 13 and are being investigated under specific sections of the Penal Code and the Immigration Act.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.