Cops bust job scam racket in Kuching, arrest 65 locals

KUCHING: Police have crippled a job scam syndicate operating within the district with the arrest of 65 locals.

The group, which targeted victims from Australia and South America, was exposed after a well-coordinated raid by the police on four premises in the city on Monday (Nov 27).

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf told a press conference that the syndicate was operating an online call centre offering non-existent job opportunities.

Police seized 137 phones, 45 computers, six modems, a laptop, five watches and four vehicles.

“The suspects, all of whom are locals aged between 16 and 50, were arrested, including a 45-year-old man believed to be the mastermind.

“The syndicate utilised social media platforms such as Telegram, LinkedIn, and Facebook to identify and target victims in Australia and South America, specifically in Brazil, Peru, Paraguay and Chile,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (Nov 29).

Ramli noted that the syndicate also used the Monday apps to input customer data of potential victims interested in the part-time work.

Interested victims will be given a link to register and complete the assigned task, which is to write reviews to promote a website offering cheap flight tickets.

“Although the victims had to pay a sum for each review they wrote, they (syndicate) promised the victims a commission and a refund of payment upon completion of the assigned task.

“The promised commission and refund of payment never materialised,” he said.

The case is being investigated under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property, and criminal conspiracy.