Police nab 12 linked to Sungai Lembing scam call centre

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have apprehended 12 individuals linked to a fraudulent call centre scam in Sungai Lembing, Pahang, according to authorities. The operation followed a raid on a closed resort in the area, where Immigration Department officials had discovered the illicit activities. Acting Pahang police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob revealed that the Commercial Crime Investigation Department had been tracking the suspect's movements after receiving intelligence from the Immigration Department's raid.

A 35-year-old Chinese man was apprehended at the resort while entering the premises. Subsequent to this arrest, police conducted searches at five additional locations, leading to the detainment of 11 more individuals, comprising 10 Chinese citizens, an Indian national, and a Myanmar woman, aged between 21 and 35. Notably, none of the suspects possessed prior criminal records.

During the raids, authorities seized an estimated RM215,000 worth of equipment, including mobile phones, computers, a laptop, Wi-Fi routers, and a vehicle. The syndicate was accused of engaging in an online investment fraud targeting victims in China and Europe, operating in Malaysia for approximately two months. They masqueraded as a customer service center, utilizing an online investment platform to deceive victims into investing in a fictitious scheme, promising exorbitant returns.

Police discovered communication records between syndicate members and victims, confirming the existence of such fraudulent activities. The case is currently under investigation, with charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy to cheat being considered under Section 420 and Section 120B of the Penal Code, respectively.