Bukit Aman to aid Aussie cops over African scam money

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman will work with Australian police to investigate suspicious cash transactions between Australia and Malaysia.

The transactions are believed to be connected to African scam syndicates operating in the region.

Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said in the last six months, 1,106 African scam cases involving RM44.98mil were reported.

He said between 2014 and 2015, these scams increased by 47.9% to 1,521 cases compared with 1,028 cases previously.

“Just recently, the Australian Federal Police applied for assistance and cooperation with CCID to help investigate several cases involving cash transactions between Australia and Malaysia.

“We believe the transactions are connected to these syndicates,” he said, adding that an American was a recent scam victim.

Comm Acryl Sani said that based on the report, a task force from the CCID intelligence and operations division arrested six African men, two African women and a Malaysian woman on Tuesday in Cyberjaya.

“We seized a luxury car, eight ATM cards, 16 mobile phones, an iPad, a computer, four laptops and two passports.

“The suspects have been remanded under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating,” he said, adding that in 2015, the cases involved losses of RM71.25mil while in 2014, they involved RM52.26mil.

“Based on our research, these scams continue to gain traction in the country because victims easily fall for the sweet promises made by the scammers,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Comm Acryl Sani said the scammers used various methods to dupe victims, including the promise of expensive presents and cash as a token of friendship.

Anyone with information on such syndicates should call the police hotline at 03-2610 1222 or go to the nearest police station.