Teens among victims rescued in police raids on scam gang, nine arrested

Johor Baru: In a shocking turn of events, three individuals believed to be victims of a notorious scam syndicate's forced labour and sexual exploitation were rescued during a series of raids carried out by the Johor police. The arrests, which took place in Kulai and Johor Baru between June 20 and July 1, resulted in the detention of nine syndicate members, comprising seven women and two men aged between 17 and 50.

The Johor police chief, Comm Datuk M. Kumar, revealed that the scam syndicate has been active since November 2024, preying on unsuspecting victims through fake social media accounts and impersonating attractive women to lure them into performing sexual acts over video calls. The syndicates also sent phishing links to hack victims' mobile phones, using the explicit recordings to blackmail them, demanding money in stages.

Victims, gripped by fear and emotional distress, would comply with the syndicate's demands by transferring money into bank accounts provided by the group. In some cases, they were even recruited as underage local workers, offering them monthly salaries between RM2,200 and RM4,000 to carry out scams locally. Once they became more skilled, they were offered jobs abroad with higher pay around USD2,500 (RM10,637).

The victims, aged between 15 and 26, were forced to work 12 hours a day, allowed only one day off every two weeks, and required to sleep at the workplace. They were not permitted to leave except on designated days off. Their identification cards and mobile phones were confiscated, and those who refused to work were subjected to physical abuse, including beatings, being forced to eat chilli, and sexually assaulted. These acts were recorded and used to further blackmail the victims.

Comm Datuk Kumar stressed that the victims were also threatened with a RM30,000 penalty if they attempted to quit and were warned against filing police reports. The Johor police also seized various items, including 27 mobile phones, personal identification documents, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, mixed currencies totaling RM140, as well as 1,822 Yuan and 4,370 Baht in cash.

Furthermore, a laptop, 49 SIM cards, a Wi-Fi modem, job-related notebooks, and a car with its remote control were confiscated. Seven out of the nine suspects will be charged at the Johor Baru Magistrate's Court, Sessions Court, and the Kulai Magistrate's Court on Tuesday (July 15). The Johor police chief urged the public not to be easily lured by high-paying job offers, especially those circulated on social media, and to always verify the background of any company before accepting such opportunities.

He also advised the public not to fall for attractive female profiles on social media, as syndicates use fake accounts to send phishing links that steal data from mobile phones before extorting the victims. Comm Datuk Kumar emphasized that the Johor police remains fully committed to combating such crimes, which threaten national security and public order.

For those who have information related to such crimes, they can channel it to the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or the district operations room at 07-2212999. The Johor police chief's words serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and awareness in the face of modern-day scams and exploitation.