A phone scam syndicate targeting Japanese citizens has been dismantled in Simpang Ampat following the arrest of 18 foreign nationals who allegedly operated an illegal call centre from two bungalow units.
The suspects, comprising 14 Japanese nationals — 13 men and one woman — and four Chinese nationals aged between 25 and 51, were detained during coordinated raids last Thursday.
Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said preliminary investigations showed the group had been working as call centre operators for the past three months, earning between RM5,000 and RM8,000 monthly.
They allegedly used the Telegram messaging platform to retrieve personal information on Japanese citizens and then deceived victims by posing as Japanese police officers. Fraudulent financial transactions were reportedly executed using an application called GO (JAPAN).
During the raids, authorities seized 49 mobile phones, 13 iPad tablets, three laptops, walkie-talkies, numeric keypads, Japanese-language scam scripts, house keys, gate access devices, and a whiteboard detailing shift schedules.
All 18 suspects have been remanded to assist investigations under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of one to 10 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Azizee urged the public to remain cautious and avoid interacting with unknown callers or suspicious messages. “End the call immediately and verify any claims with the nearest authorities. Avoiding engagement is better than enduring financial losses,” he advised.
