By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 2: Police have arrested eight individuals believed to be involved in an online love scam call centre targeting victims overseas during a raid at an apartment in Jalan Song here.
Kuching District Police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the suspects, comprising two local men, one local woman and five foreign men, were aged between 21 and 26.
He said the raid was conducted by a team of officers and personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Kuching District Police Headquarters (IPD Kuching) at about 11pm on Sept 1.
“Police also seized laptops, mobile phones and other devices believed to have been used to operate the online love scam call centre,” he said in a statement today.
Preliminary checks and analysis found that the syndicate was operating as a call centre involved in online love scam activities, with its victims believed to be based outside Malaysia.
“All eight suspects are believed to have worked full-time in the operation,” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping and a possible fine upon conviction.
The investigation is also being conducted under Section 120(b) of the Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, which carries a jail term of up to six months, or a fine, or both.
All eight suspects were brought before the Kuching Magistrates’ Court today to obtain a remand order. The court subsequently approved a four-day remand order.
Alexson also urged members of the public to come forward with information relating to criminal activities and to work with police in efforts to prevent crime.
Information can be channelled to any nearby police station or the Kuching District Control Centre at 082-244444. — DayakDaily
