Malaysian Immigration Department officials raided and arrested 1,000 Chinese nationals believed to be part of the largest online scam syndicate operating in the country.
In a Facebook post, the Immigration Department of Malaysia announced that the syndicate were operating out of an office in the university-slash-tech town of Cyberjaya, just outside of the Malaysian capital.
Photos from the raid which occurred on Wednesday, showed busted suspects with their hands above their heads in an office filled with computers and dozens of smartphones — all probably used to run multiple online accounts to carry out the scams.
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Videos circulating online purportedly showed dozens of people scattering and fleeing from the premises. One man was seen being detained and tackled to the ground.
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A couple of them were desperate enough to escape the building by actually jumping out from windows. Others were captured while trying to escape the premises.
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Officials seized more than 8,000 phones and almost 1,000 computers used to run the scam, which targeted victims in China by offering fast profits in return for investments.
Those captured – 603 men and 77 women – had entered Malaysia on a social visit pass intended for tourists or visiting friends, but not for work, said immigration chief Khairul Dzaimee Daud.
About 100 to 120 suspects managed to escape from the building, and officials said they are trying to track them down.
Acting on a public tip-off, he said officials conducted surveillance on the building for almost a month before the raid.
The syndicate is believed to have been operating for the last six months. The office that was raided was rented at RM360,000 (US$86,000) a month, said immigration officials.
The suspects will be remanded for 14 days. They are expected to face charges including violating social visit pass regulations, entering and residing in Malaysia without a valid visa and overstaying.
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