A total of 21,374 commercial criminal cases, involving losses of about RM4.2 billion, have been reported since January until Oct 21 this year, said Bukit Aman Commercial Criminal Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh.

He said 56 percent of the cases involved cybercrimes such as the African Scam, Macau Scam and Love Scam syndicates.

Detailing the success of the police’s “Op Seagull”, he said 27 Malaysians, comprising 21 men and six women, were arrested in Melaka Tengah last Saturday on suspicion of opening five call centres for a Macau Scam in Pulau Pangkor, Perak.

They are believed to have carried out their activities for a year from the five call centres, and are believed to have cheated victims of RM1 million, he said, adding that the latest victim to fall prey to the scam was on Oct 4.

During a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, he said 221 cases had been reported against this syndicate.

Amar Singh said that prior to that, on Oct 14, police arrested three men and two women, aged between 23 and 42, for allegedly opening a call centre for the Macau Scam in Melaka Tengah, which had been operating for six months.

“They have also been operating in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan in Sabah. Police received 54 reports against them, involving losses of RM345,000,” he said, adding that police also seized 13 cellphones, four notebooks and conversation scripts to deceive victims.

He said the public should be wary of anyone asking for cash through phone calls for payments and them to verify with Bank Negara before doing so.

– Bernama