Johor police arrest 335 scam suspects in Forest City crackdown

Johor police have dismantled two major online scam syndicates operating out of Forest City, arresting 335 individuals in a significant crackdown. The operation, conducted on July 15, targeted syndicates involved in fake cryptocurrency investments and "love scams" that defrauded victims abroad, particularly in China and Indonesia.

Authorities announced on Tuesday that the suspects, aged between 20 and 58, included 309 Chinese nationals, 19 Indonesians, four Myanmar nationals, and three Malaysians. Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad stated that 159 of those arrested were slated for charges. The police raided 27 apartment units and five bungalows within the Forest City development.

During the operation, police seized a substantial amount of equipment, including 313 computers, 1,557 mobile phones, 17 laptops, and a Mazda CX-8 SUV. The two syndicates employed distinct methods to ensnare their victims. The first group, comprising 279 suspects, allegedly ran love and crypto scams, while the second syndicate of 56 individuals, mostly foreigners, impersonated recruitment agents and offered fraudulent crypto investments. Some suspects were found to be without valid travel documents.

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This operation had successfully crippled two different syndicates that carried out online scam activities such as fake cryptocurrency investment offers and ‘love scams’ targeting victims from abroad, especially China and Indonesia.