Melaka: Melaka police have dismantled a love scam syndicate with the arrest of three Nigerian men and an Indonesian woman during pre-dawn raids at three apartment units in Taman Klebang Jaya.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Melaka Police Chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar stated that the suspects, aged between 39 and 47, were apprehended during 2.45 am raids on Tuesday. The operation led to the seizure of computers and mobile phones valued at RM15,000. Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had been operating for six months, conducting online fraud through Facebook accounts using various aliases.

The police chief highlighted that the suspects entered Malaysia on student passes but were found to have exploited these documents to run a deceitful operation that targeted victims both locally and internationally. The syndicate lured individuals with sweet words and false promises, persuading them to transfer money to e-wallet accounts controlled by the group.

Dzulkhairi also mentioned that the suspects have been remanded for 14 days until August 25, and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code and Section 15(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963. He urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious of unfamiliar individuals making enticing promises. He advised checking suspicious phone numbers or bank account numbers on the designated website and encouraged victims of cyber fraud to report to the National Scam Response Centre hotline at 997 to prevent any financial transactions.