Kuala lumpur: Two online scam syndicates targeting victims in India and the United States were crippled in separate raids at a luxury condominium in the capital last month. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa announced the successful operation that resulted in the arrest of several individuals involved in the scams.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in a raid on April 23, a total of 22 individuals, including locals as well as Taiwanese, Pakistani, and Indian nationals, were arrested for their suspected involvement in a 'Macau Scam'. The modus operandi of the syndicate involved impersonating Indian authorities and accusing victims of involvement in the dissemination of seditious content. The syndicate used 'Delhi Police' uniforms with the name tag 'Inspector Sunil Kumar' during video calls to instill fear and panic among victims.

In a second raid conducted the following day, police arrested 13 individuals, including locals and nationals from China, Myanmar, and Vietnam, believed to be involved in 'Love scam' activities targeting victims in the United States. The syndicate used fake profile applications such as PIGSMS to build personal relationships with victims before switching to WhatsApp and Telegram to solicit money. Rusdi stated that they would cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for further action and investigation.

Both syndicates operated out of luxury condominium units with high rental values and tight security, serving as call centers to evade detection. The suspects rarely left the premises, making their presence unknown even to neighbors. The cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, with additional charges under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code for eight foreign suspects linked to the love scam case.

Rusdi emphasized that the CCID continuously collaborates with foreign police and embassies to share arrest data and curb cross-border crimes.