Melaka Cops Bust Job Scam Syndicate Targeting Ecuadorians

MELAKA, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Melaka police have crippled an online job scam syndicate believed to be targeting victims from Ecuador, following a raid on a premises at Taman Paya Rumput Perdana, Tanjung Minyak, here yesterday.  

Melaka Police Chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said 16 individuals were arrested, comprising six local men and 10 foreign men aged between 16 and 38.  

“Investigations revealed that all the suspects were believed to be workers paid RM4,000 per month by the syndicate leader, and the premises was used as a call centre for the online job scam targeting victims from that country.  

“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to contact victims through WhatsApp and Telegram before promoting various products such as clothing and watches via fake websites,” he said in a statement here today.  

Elaborating further, Dzulkhairi said victims who were deceived would make purchases through the websites before being instructed to make a second purchase.  

“The syndicate also offered victims the opportunity to find other buyers willing to purchase the items at higher prices, with supposed profits to be shared between the victims and the syndicate.  

“The syndicate would then pressure victims into making several purchases until they could no longer afford them, before cutting off communication — causing the victims to realise they had been duped,” he said.  

He added that all transactions were conducted online using United States dollars (USD), and the websites used were fake and created specifically for fraudulent purposes.  

Various equipment believed to have been used in the operation, estimated to be worth RM20,000, was also seized, including 16 central processing units (CPUs), 32 monitors, 16 keyboards, 16 mice, one modem, two routers, and two internet ports.  

“All the suspects have been remanded for four days from today until Nov 8 to assist investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Section 120B of the Penal Code (Cheating and Criminal Conspiracy), Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Overstaying), and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 (Violation of Pass Conditions),” he said.  

He also advised the public to remain cautious of suspicious part-time job offers and to verify with the authorities beforehand to avoid becoming victims of online scams.

-- BERNAMA