Pahang police announced on October 20 that between October 6 and 14, officers carried out five targeted raids across Sungai Lembing, Kuantan, and Genting Highlands in Bentong district. A total of 31 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in transnational cyber scams were arrested, with local media reporting that at least 21 of them are Chinese nationals.
The enforcement unfolded in rapid succession: on October 6, police detained five suspects in Sungai Lembing. Over the following days, multiple operations in Kuantan rounded up individuals linked to bogus investment and romance scam syndicates. On October 14, authorities arrested another seven Chinese men in Genting Highlands, who allegedly used Amazon to post fake part-time job recruitment ads. Police seized various electronic devices—including laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones, modems, and routers—along with 4,850 Malaysian ringgit in cash.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicates operated with coordinated roles, using fabricated social media accounts and messaging apps to conceal identities while targeting victims in China, Europe, and the United States. Some suspects were also unable to present valid entry documents, and police are verifying their status. The cases are currently being investigated under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Penal Code, as well as immigration laws.
Recent trends suggest that continued crackdowns in traditional hubs like Cambodia and Myanmar may be prompting some scam operations to disperse into countries like Malaysia. The pace of these raids suggests oversight may be tightening, and it is a reminder for Chinese job seekers in Malaysia to stay alert against dubious high-paying online offers.
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