Malaysia is seeing an increasing number of foreign nationals involved in online scam activities, particularly individuals from China, according to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
According to China Press, Khalid said the trend has become a growing concern for authorities as Malaysia continues to deal with international scam syndicates operating within the country.
Khalid also said police have observed more cases involving Chinese nationals coming to Malaysia and allegedly participating in scam-related activities.
182 foreign nationals arrested last month
Khalid revealed that police arrested 182 foreign nationals in July over suspected involvement in online scam activities.
He said the arrests showed attempts by foreign syndicates to use Malaysia as a hub for online scam operations.
However, the nationality breakdown of the 182 individuals was not provided in the report, so it should not be assumed that all of them were Chinese nationals.
Meanwhile, Khalid said the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) in Cyberjaya receives more than 500 calls from scam victims every day.
Each complaint is followed up with a police report so that Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department can take further action.
Police previously busted major international scam syndicates
This is not the first major crackdown involving foreign-run scam operations in Malaysia.
In May, police carried out 46 raids on luxury homes and condominiums across the Klang Valley under Ops Teguh 2.0.
A total of 187 people from various countries were arrested over suspected involvement in cross-border online scams.
According to The Star, those arrested included:
- 129 Chinese nationals
- 23 Malaysians
- 9 Japanese nationals
- 8 Vietnamese nationals
- 7 Indonesians
- 4 Laotians
- 3 Thai nationals
- 2 Filipinos
- 2 Myanmar nationals
Police also seized assets and properties worth an estimated RM57.68 million, including luxury properties, vehicles, watches, jewellery, gold bars and hundreds of electronic devices.
The syndicates were allegedly involved in activities including fake investment schemes, phone scams, love scams and online gambling, with victims located in several countries.
IGP previously raised concerns over visa-free entry
Khalid had also raised concerns earlier this year about foreign scam syndicates taking advantage of Malaysia’s visa exemption policies.
Following the May raids, he said the visa exemption policy was among the factors making it easier for international scam syndicates to operate in Malaysia.
He added that police were working with the Immigration Department and other enforcement agencies to monitor foreigners and tourists entering the country.
The Star reported that Khalid said the policy could make it easier for foreign criminals to operate locally.
However, visa-free entry itself does not permit foreigners to work in Malaysia.
Under the Malaysia-China mutual visa exemption agreement, eligible travellers may enter for purposes such as tourism, visiting family and friends, business and exchanges, but employment is not covered by the arrangement.
Remarks came as police investigate Malaysians detained in Pakistan
Khalid made the latest remarks while addressing reports of Malaysians suspected of involvement in an online scam syndicate in Pakistan.
Pakistani authorities reportedly detained 258 foreign nationals during a raid on a suspected scam call centre on the outskirts of Islamabad.
Among those arrested were 40 Chinese nationals and 170 Vietnamese nationals, as well as Malaysians and citizens of other Asian countries.
PDRM has since sent a special team to Islamabad to investigate the involvement of Malaysian nationals and trace the wider network with the cooperation of Pakistani authorities.
At the time of the announcement, Khalid said police could not yet confirm the exact number of Malaysians detained as investigations were still at an early stage.
