IPOH (Sept 18): Police have busted an online scam call centre in Ipoh that allegedly impersonated friends to deceive victims in Japan, with seven suspects arrested in a raid at a house in Taman Merdeka on Wednesday.

Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said those arrested were six Japanese men and a local man aged between 22 and 58.

He said the raid was conducted at about 3.30pm by a team from the Perak police contingent Criminal Investigation Department's D7 unit together with the Ipoh district Commercial Crime Investigation Division.

“Based on initial investigations, police believe the syndicate was operating a call centre for an online identity impersonation scam by posing as friends.

“The syndicate began operating at the premises in mid-August this year and targeted victims in Japan,” he said in a statement on Friday night.

Mohd Alwi said police also seized 16 mobile phones, a laptop, a WiFi router and a set of house keys in the operation, with the total value of the seizures estimated at RM20,000.

He said the six Japanese men were remanded for four days from Sept 17 to 20 while the local man was remanded for one day from Thursday.

The case is being investigated under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code for cheating and criminal conspiracy.

Mohd Alwi said Perak police will continue taking proactive action to curb call centres involved in online gambling and fraud activities.

“In this regard, the public, particularly residential property owners, are advised to thoroughly check their tenants' backgrounds to prevent their premises from being used as hideouts or call centres for illegal activities,” he said.

He also urged members of the public with information or who suspected that premises in their neighbourhood were being used as call centres to provide information to the nearest police station to help combat such crimes.

Uploaded by Lam Seng Fatt