POLICE have dismantled two international online scam syndicates operating out of Kuala Lumpur, arresting 24 individuals during separate raids on luxury condominiums used as makeshift fraud command centres.
The syndicates are believed to have targeted victims in China and Japan through investment scams involving cryptocurrency, according to Dang Wangi District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman.
In the first operation, conducted at 4pm last Thursday, officers from Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK), Dang Wangi JSJK, and the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) raided two condominium units at Lorong Binjai.
“Based on intelligence, one of the units was used for accommodation while the other operated as an online scam centre targeting victims in China,” Sulizmie said at a press conference today.
He confirmed the arrest of 14 individuals — 13 foreign nationals and one Malaysian — aged between 18 and 45, all of whom had entered Malaysia using social visit passes.
Items seized included five laptops, 23 mobile phones, a modem, and an access card.
All suspects have been remanded until Thursday and are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
A second operation was carried out at 5pm the following day at five luxury condominium units along Persiaran KLCC, leading to the arrest of 10 foreign nationals aged between 25 and 30. These suspects were allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment scams aimed at Japanese victims.
“As in the earlier case, some units were used for operations while others served as accommodation,” Sulizmie explained.
Police confiscated eight laptops, two monitors, 16 mobile phones, two modems, and three access cards. The suspects have been remanded until tomorrow.
Initial investigations suggest all those detained entered Malaysia in early September specifically to carry out these scams.
Although the victims were based overseas, Sulizmie urged residents of Kuala Lumpur’s high-end condominiums to remain vigilant and alert authorities if they notice large groups of foreign nationals moving in under suspicious circumstances.
He added that all confiscated passports are being verified with the Immigration Department. - September 22, 2025
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