KUALA LUMPUR: Police have busted an international online investment scam syndicate targeting European citizens, resulting in the arrest of 49 suspects of various nationalities.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf disclosed that this followed a raid on Feb 6 at an office located on Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
"Acting on intelligence gathered regarding illicit call centre operations, our team swiftly conducted the raid on Feb 6 at the premises.
"The syndicates are believed to be involved in forex investment fraud targeting citizens of France, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
"The group sends random text messages via Telegram and the Riacapital website containing online investment advertisement links to their target population using the Zopier app and CRM Link.
"Once victims express interest in the investment offer, they are instructed to invest in the scheme," he said during a press conference today.
A total of 49 suspects were apprehended during the raid, comprising 31 men and 18 women aged between 20 to 41 years old.
The suspects hailed from diverse backgrounds, including Malaysians, Armenians, Senegalese, Algerians, Moroccans, Mauritians, Guineans, Togolese, Cameroonians, Haitians, Djiboutians, Malagasies, Congolese, Ivorians, Chadians, Tunisians, and Ukrainians.
Among the seized items were 47 computer sets, 49 mobile phones of various brands, six laptops, and two televisions. The case has been investigated under Section 420/511 of the Penal Code.
Following the arrests, Ramli added that two Malaysian suspects were released on police bail after the expiration of their remand period on Feb 10.
"In addition, a foreign female suspect was granted police bail on Feb 8 due to pregnancy.
"The remaining suspects are currently remanded under the Immigration Act 1959/63, with their detention slated to extend until Feb 23 and Feb 24, respectively."
In another development, Ramli said CCID also successfully dismantled an investment fraud scheme known as 'AccerX' during Operation Nuri from Feb 7 to 9.
He said 43 suspects, comprising 35 men and eight women aged between 21 and 78, suspected to hold various roles such as company directors, business owners, company secretaries, and mule account holders used for defrauding victims, were apprehended.
"CCID conducted operations in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, and Sarawak during the said period.
"During the operations, 28 mobile phones, 14 sets of documents, and an OCBC Bank cheque were seized as evidence. The case is currently under investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code."
He added that as of Feb 14, a total of 135 police reports related to this fraud scheme had been received, with an overall loss value of RM93,260,687.33.