Penang Police Bust International Scam Syndicate, Arrest 29 Foreigners

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 1 – Penang police have dismantled an international fraud syndicate targeting victims in China and Cambodia, arresting 29 foreign nationals during simultaneous raids on three luxury bungalows converted into scam call centres in Barat Daya on September 22.

Penang Police Chief Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng announced during a press conference on Thursday that the operation—conducted by the Penang Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK)—led to the detention of 19 Chinese nationals and 10 Cambodian nationals aged between 20 and 63.

Raid Details and Suspect Breakdown

The coordinated operation targeted three separate premises across the Barat Daya district:

• First Raid (Teluk Kumbar): Police arrested 14 Chinese men found operating without valid travel documents.
• Second Raid (Teluk Kumbar): Authorities detained three Chinese men, one Cambodian man, and three Cambodian women.
• Third Raid (Solok Bukit Belah, Bayan Baru): Officers arrested two Chinese men and six Cambodian women.

Police verified that suspects arrested in the second and third raids possessed valid passports, with several having recorded prior entries into Malaysia.

Syndicate Operations and Modus Operandi

Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had been operating for two to three months. The syndicate rented three bungalows for RM10,000 per month each to host call centre operations, paying individual operatives monthly salaries of up to RM8,000.

The scam targeted victims in China and Cambodia using Facebook Live broadcasts and the LINE messaging application through a “scratch and win” prize scheme promising rewards of up to US$2 million.

Victims were instructed to scan QR codes to pay processing fees, taxes, and insurance to release their non-existent prizes. Initial checks indicate the QR codes were registered in Cambodia. Police are actively tracing fund flows and identifying additional accomplices involved in the network.

Seizures and Legal Action

During the raids, police confiscated extensive operational equipment, including:

• Over 200 mobile phones
• 17 laptops and 2 desktop computers
• 6 modems and routers
• Studio recording equipment
• Customer records, “Scratch and Win” cards, and suspected counterfeit documents

All 29 suspects have been remanded until October 13 to facilitate investigations under Section 420 (Cheating) read together with Section 120B (Criminal Conspiracy) of the Penal Code, as well as Sections 6(1) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

–NMT