Ipoh: Police have busted an online scam call centre in Ipoh that allegedly impersonated friends to deceive victims in Japan, with seven suspects arrested in a raid at a house in Taman Merdeka on Wednesday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin stated that those arrested were six Japanese men and a local man aged between 22 and 58. The raid was conducted at about 3.30 pm by a team from the Perak police contingent Criminal Investigation Department's D7 unit, together with the Ipoh district Commercial Crime Investigation Division.

Based on initial investigations, police believe the syndicate was operating a call centre for an online identity impersonation scam by posing as friends. The syndicate began operating at the premises in mid-August this year and targeted victims in Japan.

Mohd Alwi reported that police seized 16 mobile phones, a laptop, a WiFi router, and a set of house keys during the operation, with the total value of the seizures estimated at RM20,000. The six Japanese men were remanded for four days from September 17 to 20, while the local man was remanded for one day from yesterday.

The case is being investigated under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code for cheating and criminal conspiracy. Mohd Alwi emphasized that Perak police will continue taking proactive action to curb call centres involved in online gambling and fraud activities.

In this regard, the public, particularly residential property owners, are advised to thoroughly check their tenants' backgrounds to prevent their premises from being used as hideouts or call centres for illegal activities. He also urged members of the public with information or who suspected that premises in their neighbourhood were being used as call centres to provide information to the nearest police station to help combat such crimes.