{
  "id": 8262907,
  "title": "'Friend' impersonation scam targeting Japan busted in Ipoh",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/friend-impersonation-scam-targeting-japan-busted-in-ipoh",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T15:19:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1535793/friend-impersonation-scam-targeting-japan-busted-ipoh"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Police in Ipoh, Malaysia have dismantled an online scam call centre that was impersonating friends of victims to deceive people in Japan. Seven suspects, including six Japanese men and a local man aged between 22 and 58, were arrested in a raid conducted by the Perak police contingent Criminal Investigation Department's D7 unit and the Ipoh Commercial Crime Investigation Division. The syndicate, which began operating from a premises in Taman Merdeka in mid-August, targeted victims in Japan and had seized 16 mobile phones, a laptop, a WiFi router, and a set of house keys, estimated to be worth RM20,000. The arrested individuals have been remanded for varying periods, and the case is under investigation for cheating and criminal conspiracy under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code. Police have advised the public to thoroughly check the backgrounds of their tenants to prevent their properties from being used for illegal activities, and to report any suspicions to the nearest police station.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}