Kedah police bust online scam syndicate posing as Indian police officers

Kedah police have dismantled an online scam syndicate that was posing as Indian police officers, arresting 48 individuals last Friday in Bandar Putra, Kulim. The syndicate, which began operating in late August, used the Telegram app to communicate and deceive victims by claiming their phone numbers were involved in illegal activities.

The victims were asked to transfer money into provided bank accounts for police investigation purposes. Of the arrested, seven were locals, eight were Indian nationals, and 33 were Pakistani nationals. The syndicate members, aged between 20 to 43, claimed they were recruited after applying for jobs on social media, with promises of salaries between RM2,500 and RM3,500 a month.

A total of 73 individuals have fallen victim to the syndicate, resulting in losses of nearly RM1.4 million. Police seized various items, including 89 mobile phones, seven laptops, modems, monitors, Indian police uniforms, Indian flags, and Indian Central Bureau of Investigation flags, estimated at a total value of RM70,000. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Section 120B of the Penal Code, and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Follow-up arrests were made involving two local men and three local women aged 44 to 51, who acted as the premises owners, real estate agents, and renters of the involved premises.

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