Con men involved in 'parcel scam' net RM8.2m from Jan to Nov 2016

SHAH ALAM: Con men involved in "parcel scams" in Selangor have amassed a whopping RM8.2 million from January to November this year.
Selangor Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief ACP Mohd Sakri Ariffin said in the latest incident, 44 suspects were picked up during a birthday party of one of the suspects at Setia Walk mall in Puchong.
"The raid was initiated upon receiving a tip-off on Nov 16 at 11pm. The suspects arrested were aged between 20 and 30 and comprises of 27 Nigerians, 10 locals, three Thai nationals, two Filipinos and one Vietnamese and Indonesian.
"The syndicate's modus operandi was to befriend the victims through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, posting their profiles as foreign individuals who were personable and rich.
"They used other people's faces on the accounts to attract the women. After a period of acquaintance, the suspect will tell the victim that he has sent something valuable as a token of appreciation," he told a press conference at Selangor police headquarters here today.
The victim will then receive a call from someone pretending to be from the customs or immigration department from KL International Airport asking for tax payment for the package, he said, adding the victims will be asked to make an online payment.
Following the initial arrest, police raided the syndicate's house in Puchong where they found mobile phones, bank books, five ATM cards, and four Wi-Fi modems.
Mohd Sakry said the foreigners entered the country as students.
The suspects have been remanded and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which upon conviction carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and caning and fine, he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, Mohd Sakry said police nabbed three individuals including a Thai woman for cheating online retailers by using fake RM100 notes.
"The notes were printed by the trio themselves and transactions are carried out in dark areas to avoid victims being suspicious," he added.
He said checks also found the suspects would extort the items from the seller and flee the scene if the seller realises the notes were fake.
A total of 11 cases were recorded over the last two weeks.
Also seized were drugs, printers and 106 pieces of fake RM100 notes that were in the suspects' possession.