KUALA LUMPUR – Nine individuals including two women have been detained on suspicion of being involved in a syndicate offering non-existent jobs in Australia in two separate raids in the Klang Valley on Wednesday.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said all the suspects, aged 20 to 31, were believed to be working at the syndicate’s call centre which had been operating since March 2020.
He said investigations revealed that the syndicate used social media platforms such as the Whatsapp app, Facebook and Instagram, under the “ecotravelmalaysia” and “malaysiaecotravel” profiles, to advertise job offers in Australia.
Kamarudin said the syndicate also used the “malaysia-ecotravel.com” website to guide unsuspecting victims in applying for a work visa abroad.
“Victims were charged AUD$420 (RM1,310) for processing costs (visa application) and the syndicate entered the victim’s information in the ‘ImmiAccount online application’ before sending them a screenshot showing the application document as well as a copy of the fake document using the Australian government-Home Affairs Department letterhead.
“Based on the record in the ImmiAccount online application, a total of 658 applications using the syndicate’s email address are still pending for processing involving Bangladeshis, Malaysians and Pakistanis,” he said in a statement today.
Kamarudin said as of today 1,023 individuals have lodged reports on the matter with the Australian embassy while police have received 28 reports, with losses amounting to RM155,472.
He said the syndicate changed its company name, Facebook account and website address several times, using names such as Top Speed Agency Visa and Eco Travel Malaysia, among others, but the design, email template, invoice as well as social media accounts maintained the same format.
Those who have fallen victim to the syndicate are urged to lodge a report so that further investigations can be carried out, he added.
“Individuals are advised to check and confirm with the relevant agencies before applying for a suspicious job offer or contact the CCID Scam Response Centre at 03-2610-1559 or 03-2610-1599,” he said.
Kamarudin said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Prevention of Crime Act 1959 and Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. – Bernama, April 29, 2022
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