130 Malaysians Arrested In Pakistan Over Alleged Scam Targeting Fellow Citizens
A Malaysian national identified as 'Jack' is suspected of directing the operation from Cambodia.
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Pakistani authorities have arrested 130 Malaysians in Rawalpindi for allegedly operating an online scam centre targeting victims back home
According to a First Information Report (FIR) obtained by ProPakistani, all 130 suspects were residing in Pakistan with expired visas and without valid immigration status.
They were arrested after officials from Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) raided their office at KASA Tower in Bahria Town Phase VIII.
The syndicate allegedly operated from Pakistan, targeting victims in Malaysia from approximately 4,400km away. Its alleged tactics included:
- Impersonating bank customer service staff
- Posing as Malaysian police officers
- Threatening criminal proceedings
- Transferring funds through digital payments and cryptocurrency
The syndicate allegedly ran an online scam centre out of KASA Tower in Bahria Town Phase VIII.
Image via Kasa Group (Facebook)The FIR detailed how the suspects used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications to contact victims and impersonate bank customer service representatives
Victims were reportedly told that suspicious or unauthorised transactions had been detected in their bank accounts.
The calls would then be transferred to individuals posing as Malaysian police officers.
The suspects allegedly wore police uniforms resembling those of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and used office-style backgrounds during video calls to make their identities appear legitimate.
Victims were then threatened with money laundering charges and pressured into transferring money through a Malaysian e-wallet. The funds were then allegedly converted into cryptocurrency.
The case is currently being investigated under Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Penal Code, with the alleged offences including:
- Electronic and cybercrime offences
- Common intention
- Extortion
- Cheating by personation
- Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
- Abetment
AI-generated image for illustration purposes only.
Image via @NST_Online (X)The syndicate reportedly operated under an organisational hierarchy, with a Malaysian national identified as 'Jack' allegedly directing the operation from Cambodia
Another individual, identified as 'Mohamad Shawalludin', was named as the alleged local supervisor, while 'Hew Wei Lun' was described as the manager overseeing the call centre's operations.
Authorities also discovered a Chinese national reportedly residing in Islamabad who is suspected of receiving cryptocurrency from the operators and converting it into Pakistani rupees.
The FIR noted that the arrests do not automatically establish guilt, as some of the suspects named in the case may not have knowingly participated in the alleged offences. Their individual roles and the extent of their involvement will be determined through further investigations.
Authorities will also investigate the alleged involvement of the overseas controller, local supervisors, call centre personnel, financial facilitators, and cryptocurrency handlers, as well as identify other individuals who may have assisted the operation.
