Twenty foreign men have been arrested in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, for allegedly running an online love scam syndicate that targeted victims in China through the Telegram messaging platform.
Police raided a three-storey house in Solok Sungai Emas at about 7.05pm on Sunday (23 August), The Star reported. The operation was carried out by the Commercial Crime Investigation Division together with personnel from the Batu Ferringhi police station.
Northeast OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rozak Muhammad said the suspects, aged between 19 and 41, were apprehended during the evening raid. Initial investigations confirmed the syndicate used the Telegram messaging platform to carry out online scams targeting Chinese nationals. The operation appears to have been structured as a call centre-style setup, with suspects assigned roles in contacting and deceiving victims.
During the raid, officers seized more than 100 mobile phones of various brands, three laptops, several notebooks and other telecommunications equipment believed to have been used in the operation, according to The Vibes. The volume of devices recovered suggests a large-scale operation capable of targeting multiple victims simultaneously.
Magistrate Nurhanisah S H Sahul Hamid issued a four-day remand order against all 20 suspects, effective from 24 August until Thursday (27 August). All suspects are represented by lawyer Cheah Eng Soon. The remand period allows police to carry out further investigations, including forensic analysis of the seized devices and interviews with the suspects.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 and Section 120B of the Penal Code, which cover cheating and criminal conspiracy respectively. Section 420 carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine and whipping upon conviction.
Penang has seen a series of similar busts this year. In June, police dismantled three international scam syndicates in separate raids across the state, seizing equipment worth an estimated RM123,000. In late July, another operation took down a call centre scam at a luxury condominium in Tanjung Bungah. The recurring pattern points to Penang’s continued attractiveness as a base for cross-border scam operations, drawn by relatively affordable rental properties and access to telecommunications infrastructure.
Authorities said more arrests have not been ruled out as investigations continue.
