GEORGE TOWN: Police have busted an international fraud syndicate that utilises information communication technology (ICT) with the arrest of four Taiwanese here yesterday.
Bukit Aman CCID director Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said the three men and a woman aged 20-31 years, believed to be the main players, were arrested in a noon raid on an apartment.
“We also seized six laptop computers, 20 mobile phones, 199 pendrives, 159 ATM cards from China and Taiwan and various ICT equipment used by the syndicate,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He said following the first raid, police raided a premise in a plaza at Bayan Baru at 1.15pm but no anyone was found there.
Investigation revealed that the syndicate which had been operating since June made three premises at the plaza as office or call centre.
The call centre can accommodate 60 workers at any one time and is equipped with Voice over Internet Protocol, a computer server that facilitates online impersonation.”
“Police also found equipment including telephones, modems and desktop computers in the premises equipped with closed circuit cameras to monitor the area.
“The syndicate with a network of countries in Asia uses over 80 workers from China to carry out their operation in Malaysia.” Syed Ismail said the syndicate’s modus operandi was to contact prospective victims in China and Taiwan posing as police or bank officers.
“They will inform victim thats their bank account or credit card had been hacked by third parties and their money would be stolen by conmen if not transferred to other accounts.” He said at first the victim did not believe but were convinced after contacting the telephone number given and received by electronic operators like that used by police or banks.
“Investigation found that the phone numbers given to the victims were that of banks or police stations but the syndicate have the expertise to intercept the calls.
“Unsuspectingly, the vitims gave the syndicate their bank details and transferred money into their accounts,” he added.
Following the two raids, police raided a premise in Kangar, Perlis yesterday, believed related to the fraud syndicate.
Syed Azizan said police believed that over 200 fraud cases were resolved with smashing of the international syndicate. — Bernama
“Information received from Chinese police revealed that the syndicate is linked to fraud cases by phone involving losses of over RM2bil last year.” Malaysian police cooperated with police in China and Taiwan as all the victims involved in the fraud were from the two countries.
“None of the victims were Malaysias because the syndicate was using this country as operating centre disguised as a locally registered company.” Police are tracking down those who worked at the call centre run by the syndicate.
The operation involved 12 officers and 39 personnel from Bukit Aman and Penang CCID.
The four Taiwanese have been remanded for investigation under Section 420 of Penal Code and Section 233 of Communications and Multimedia Act. — Bernama