MELAKA TENGAH: Police have smashed two online scam syndicates operating out of a luxury bungalow and a hotel here, arresting 29 foreigners.
The syndicates, which targeted victims in Vietnam and China, were crippled in separate raids by Melaka Tengah police.
Melaka Tengah police chief Assistant Commissioner Halim Abas said the first raid on a two-storey bungalow in a resort area yesterday evening led to the arrest of 15 men aged between 21 and 40.
The suspects comprised 14 Vietnamese nationals and one Chinese national.
Initial investigations found that the premises was being used as a call centre for non-existent loan and love scams targeting victims in Vietnam.
Halim told a press conference that the syndicate had been operating since early October, with suspects posing as customer service officers to contact victims.
"Police seized 11 computer sets, 24 mobile phones, remote controls, translation devices and 15 passports, with the total seizure estimated at RM43,400.
"Each suspect was paid about RM2,500 to carry out the operations," Halim said.
In a separate raid on Tuesday afternoon, police arrested 14 Chinese nationals at a hotel in Melaka Raya.
Halim said the suspects, comprising 11 men and three women aged between 21 and 55, were using four hotel rooms as an operations centre for an online investment scam targeting victims in China.
He said the syndicate had been active since mid-September, paying each suspect about RM3,000 to act as a customer service representative.
Police seized 33 mobile phones, four laptops, a tablet, translation devices, 96 prepaid SIM cards and RM6,400 in cash, with the total seizure valued at RM47,500.
All 29 suspects are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for illegal entry.
The offences are punishable by jail terms, fines and caning.
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