Kuala lumpur: Police arrested 20 foreign men suspected of being involved in an online love scam syndicate after raiding a house being used as a homestay in Batu Ferringhi yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Northeast district police chief ACP Abdul Rozak Muhammad stated that the suspects, aged between 19 and 41, were arrested during a 7:05 pm raid. The operation was conducted by a team from the Northeast District Police Headquarters Commercial Crime Investigation Division, with assistance from personnel from the Batu Ferringhi Police Station.

Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate targeted victims from China, using the Telegram application to conduct the scams. Authorities confiscated several items during the raid, including mobile phones, laptops, notebooks, and telecommunications equipment.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 420/120B of the Penal Code. All the suspects have been remanded for four days until Thursday (Aug 27) for further investigation.