Police bust loan scam call centre in Muar, eight arrested

 

MUAR: Police have busted a call centre offering non-existent loans to unsuspecting customers nationwide, arresting eight syndicate members.

Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said on Thursday (Feb 5) that police raided a house in Taman Abong near here at 4.40am following intelligence gathering and public information.

“The house has been used as a call centre since June last year,’’ he said in a statement on Saturday (Feb 7).

ACP Raiz Mukhliz said the eight suspects arrested were all Malaysians – three women and five men, aged 21 to 30.

He said their modus operandi was to call customers, impersonate representatives from financial institutions or loan companies, or offer their services via social media platforms.

ACP Raiz Mukhliz said police also seized 20 mobile phones, two laptops, a WiFi modem, a cheque book and a notebook with details of the victims, all worth RM10,000.

“We also detained 12 individuals in several locations in Johor in phone scams, e-commerce and misuse of bank accounts, causing losses of more than RM190,000 to victims,’’ he said.

ACP Raiz Mukhliz added that the activities involved surrendering or renting ATM cards and providing PINs to unidentified individuals.

He said the arrested individuals have been remanded for four days, and the case is being investigated under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code.

ACP Raiz Mukhliz said the public can also go to Semak Mule, CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-26101599 or go to Facebook@jsjkpdrm and @cybercrimealertrmp

Scam victims are advised to call the National Scam Response Centre at 997 to report their case. - Star