ANN/THE STAR – Eight individuals have been arrested in connection to an investment scam following the dismantling of two call centres, according to Commissioner Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.
The Director of the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) disclosed that the suspects, six men and two women aged between 21 and 43, were apprehended during an operation on April 25.
These individuals were allegedly involved in running call centres that served as both customer service hubs and promotional platforms for the fraudulent scheme targeting Malaysians.
At a press briefing held at the CCID headquarters yesterday, Commissioner Ramli detailed that those arrested held various roles within the illicit operation, including company directors, managers, moderators, and even hosts on TikTok. The raids conducted yielded significant evidence, including seven monitors, seven laptops, 11 mobile phones, a router, counterfeit US currency, 10 fake gold bars, and a set of keys.
He further explained that the scam entailed adding interested individuals into a Telegram group where they would receive tutorials on online investment. The scheme reportedly began in August of the previous year.
Commissioner Ramli cautioned the public against gold-based investment schemes, citing records indicating significant losses for victims. He highlighted the need for a robust regulatory framework, suggesting that Bank Negara Malaysia establish regulations to oversee investment firms dealing in precious metals, thus curbing the proliferation of investment scams.
