EMPLOYERS in Selangor have lost tens of thousands of ringgit to a syndicate impersonating immigration officers, the Selangor Immigration Department (JIM) has revealed.
The scammers posed as officials and claimed to act as intermediaries, demanding payments to “release” foreign workers detained during enforcement operations.
“Every time we conduct an operation, there are ‘scammers’ or interested parties misusing the immigration name to call employers and claim they are Selangor immigration officers,” said JIM Selangor director Khairrul Aminus Kamaruddin, after joining an enforcement operation at Pelangi Damansara early on Thursday.
He explained that employers were instructed to pay between RM5,000 and RM10,000 per worker via Touch ‘n Go or cash, without further verification.
When employers visited the Shah Alam immigration office, the phone numbers used for the payments were already inactive.
The fraud has been active for about a month, causing losses of approximately RM57,000 to multiple employers.
The syndicate even used the names and photos of real immigration officers to make their claims appear credible.
Several police reports have been lodged. Khairrul Aminus urged employers not to engage intermediaries for worker release and to verify all claims directly at immigration offices.
“If any of your workers are detained during our operations, do not trust calls or messages requesting payment for their release. For any doubts, come directly to the immigration office for verification,” he said.
Employers must bring original documents when attending the immigration office. “Most of these workers have valid documents, but their passports are held by employers.
Employers need to bring the original passports, and we will release them following proper procedures,” he added. - November 14, 2025
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