China-based online scam syndicate busted, 680 Chinese nationals held

PUTRAJAYA, 21 Nov -- Jabatan Imigresen menumpaskan satu sindiket penipuan pelaburan dalam talian yang berpusat di China serta menahan 680 warga China yang menjalankan operasi aktiviti berkenaan di Cyberjaya semalam. Ketua Pengarah Imigresen Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud berkata pasukan imigresen menggempur tingkat enam sebuah bangunan di Cyberjaya kira-kira 11 pagi semalam, dipercayai menjadi pusat panggilan aktiviti penipuan yang menyasarkan penduduk negara China sebagai mangsa. Serbuan hasil intipan hampir dua bulan serta melibatkan 150 anggota imigresen itu turut membawa kepada rampasan 8,230 unit telefon bimbit, 174 komputer riba dan 787 unit komputer peribadi, katanya. Khairul Dzaimee berkata beberapa anggota imigresen mengalami kecederaan ringan apabila suspek bertindak merempuh kepungan dan menyerang dalam percubaan melarikan diri. "Kita anggarkan 100 hingga 120 orang berjaya melarikan diri, malah ada juga warga China yang ditahan mengalami calar dan luka-luka kecil berikutan tindakan tersebut," katanya pada sidang media hari ini. -- fotoBERNAMA (2019) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

by BERNAMA/ pic by BERNAMA

The Immigration Department busted a China-based online investment scam syndicate and detained 680 Chinese nationals involved in operations in Cyberjaya, yesterday.

Immigration director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said an immigration team stormed the sixth floor of a building in Cyberjaya at around 11 am yesterday, believed to be the call centre for fraudulent activities targeting the Chinese population as victims.

The raid, after two months of surveillance, involving 150 immigration personnel also led to the seizure of 8,230 mobile phones, 174 laptops and 787 personal computers, he said.

Khairul Dzaimee said some immigration officials suffered minor injuries when the suspects attacked them in a bid to escape.

“About 100 to 120 people have escaped, and some Chinese nationals who have been detained also suffered scratches and minor injuries,” he told a press conference here today.

Khairul Dzaimee said the syndicate was believed to have been operating for the last six months by renting the place at RM360,000 a month.

“The syndicate’s modus operandi is to offer victims high and quick profits where the suspects, acting as operators, will send a code to customers from certain websites where the applications are in Chinese,” he said.

Dzaimee Khairul said the suspects entered the country using social visit passes, but almost all of them couldn’t produce their passports when they were detained and until now no one has come forward to submit their documents.

All the suspects comprising 603 men and 77 women have been remanded for 14 days, he said.

They can be convicted of violating the pass requirements, entering and residing in Malaysia without a valid pass and overstaying the time allowed, he said.

All the items were seized under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001 (AMLA), he said, adding that the Chinese embassy had been informed of the arrests.