21,374 commercial crime cases involving RM4.2 bln losses this year

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 21,374 commercial criminal cases, involving losses of about RM4.2 billion, have been reported since January until Oct 21 this year, said Bukit Aman Commercial Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh.

He said 56 per cent of the cases involved cybercrimes such as by the African Scam, Macau Scam and Love Scam syndicates.

Following police investigation, he said 27 Malaysians, comprising 21 men and six women, were arrested in Melaka Tengah last Saturday on suspicion of opening five call centres for Macau Scam in Pulau Pangkor, Perak.

They were believed to have carried out their activities since a year ago from the five call centres concerned, and believed to have cheated victims of RM1 million, he said, adding that the latest victim to fall prey to the scam was last Oct 4.

He told a press conference on the department’s success in “Op Seagull” at Menara KPJ Health here that a total of 221 cases were reported against them.

Amar Singh said that prior to that, on Oct 14, police arrested three men and two women, aged between 23 and 42, for allegedly opening a call centre for the Macau Scam in Melaka Tengah, which had been operating for six months.

“They have also been operating in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan in Sabah. Police received 54 reports, involving losses of RM345,000 against them,” he said, adding that police also seized 13 handphones, four note books and scripts on conversation to deceive victims.

He said the public should be wary of anyone asking for cash through phone calls for payments and them to verify with Bank Negara before doing so. – Bernama