IPOH: A total of 97 individuals, mostly foreigners, suspected to be involved in a call centre scam, were apprehended at a vacation home on Pangkor Island, as announced by Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, Perak police chief. The raid occurred on Tuesday (Oct 31).
The arrests consisted of 67 men and 30 women. The group comprised one Malaysian man, two Chinese nationals, and 94 Vietnamese individuals, all aged between 20 and 47 years old, as disclosed in a statement on Thursday (Nov 2).
The authorities confiscated RM51,244, three laptops, 120 mobile phones, two modems, and two notebook computers. The Malaysian suspect is a 24-year-old unemployed individual with no prior criminal record. The suspects are suspected to be involved in a fraudulent investment scheme.
Comm Mohd Yusri mentioned that the raid was conducted on the first day the suspects occupied the vacation home. Some of the foreigners arrested possessed valid passports, while others did not. The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
The success of the operation was attributed to the assistance of the public, who provided information to the authorities. Comm Mohd Yusri encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities to the authorities or building managements and requested them to familiarize themselves with the scammers’ strategies through the police’s social media platforms.
