A ROMANCE scam syndicate operated by foreign nationals has been dismantled by the Melaka Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) following a series of early morning raids under Op Tiong across three condominiums in Klebang.
The raids, carried out at approximately 2.45am, led to the arrest of three Nigerian men and one Indonesian woman, aged between 39 and 47. The operation followed tip-offs and intelligence regarding a suspected online scam call centre, according to State Police Chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar.
“Investigations revealed that the syndicate has been active in the state for the past six months, having entered the country by abusing student visas. They operated under various aliases using fake Facebook accounts,” he said in a statement.
Dzulkhairi added that the suspects created fictitious profiles, pretending to be foreign lovers or suitors, and lured victims into online relationships before manipulating them into transferring money via e-wallet platforms.
During the raid, police seized two laptops, eight mobile phones, six passports and a USB drive, with an estimated total value of RM15,000.
Further analysis of the seized items by Social Media Forensics experts confirmed that the syndicate had been targeting victims in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. All four suspects are now in remand until 25 August and are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, as well as Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
In response to the growing threat of cyber fraud, Dzulkhairi urged the public to exercise caution when engaging with unknown individuals online. “People are advised not to be easily taken in by sweet words and false promises,” he said.
He also encouraged the public to verify suspicious phone numbers or bank accounts via the Royal Malaysia Police’s “semak mule” website at [https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my](https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my), and to report any suspected scams by contacting the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997 to prevent financial losses. - August 13, 2025
