IPOH, Oct 27 — Perak police have busted three scam syndicates targeting Malaysian, Chinese and Japanese victims in separate raids in Ipoh and Kampar, arresting 36 people.

Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said five Japanese men, aged 21 to 27, were arrested at a two-storey house in Kampung Simee at about 6.10pm on October 26 for allegedly impersonating staff from a Japanese hospital.

“An analysis of the devices found that the syndicate had been impersonating staff from a Japanese hospital, claiming victims’ family members had been involved in accidents and required emergency surgery,” he told a press conference at the Perak Police Headquarters today.

The syndicate allegedly demanded payment through Signal and used Japanese bank accounts to receive the money. Police seized 16 mobile phones, seven iPads and two routers worth RM22,500. The group had allegedly been operating since late September.

In a second raid at a factory in Bercham at about 12.05am on October 23, police arrested 25 Chinese nationals, including a woman, aged 26 to 41, over an alleged fake investment scheme targeting Chinese victims.

“The syndicate was using TikTok to promote the scheme before directing interested investors to Telegram for further communication,” Mohd Alwi said.

Victims were directed to the syndicate’s platform and asked to invest between 99 and 199 yuan. 

The suspects allegedly recruited customers for a promised monthly salary of RM8,000. 

Police seized 25 computers and four routers worth RM25,000. 

All 25 were remanded for seven days from October 23 to 29.

In a third raid at two apartments in Bandar Agacia, Kampar, at about 6.30pm on October 22, police arrested five local men and a Thai woman, aged 19 to 30, over an alleged fake loan scam.

“Victims were asked to send their ATM cards and PINs by post as collateral to secure the loans. The syndicate then used the victims’ ATM cards to carry out online scams,” Mohd Alwi said.

Police seized 13 mobile phones and six ATM cards worth RM15,000. The syndicate had allegedly operated since June, recruiting agents through Facebook and paying them RM3,000 to RM5,000 a month.

Its bank accounts were also linked to five fake loan scam cases in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Sabah, while student apartments in Kampar were allegedly used as its base.

Mohd Alwi said the cases were being investigated for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property under Section 420 of the Penal Code, and criminal conspiracy under Section 120B.

Those convicted could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping and a fine.