KUALA LUMPUR: Five Chinese nationals are among the seven suspects detained in a police raid on an online scam call centre in Mont Kiara here.

       Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Amihizam Abdul Shukor said the call centre was based in a condominium unit in Mont Kiara and was raided on Monday (March 21).

       "We detained three men and two women from China along with two local men aged between 19 and 25.

       "We seized various items including seven laptops, 28 mobile phones, seven keyboards and a set of keys from the premises," he said when contacted on Wednesday (March 23).

       Initial investigations found that the scammers targeted victims from China using the WeChat application, he added.

       "Each suspect had different WeChat profiles. We believe each of them would create more than 50 profiles daily to dupe victims.

       "Data of each victim was sent to a WhatsApp group for the syndicate leader to follow up," he said.

       ACP Amihizam said each syndicate member was paid between RM2,000 and RM3,000 monthly.

       "They have been operating since last month and posed as customer service officers," he said.

       He advised the public not to be fooled by dubious online job offers or investment opportunities that promised high returns in a short time.

       "Check with the relevant authorities before making any decision.

       "Don't divulge personal and banking details to unknown individuals," he said.

       ACP Amihizam said checks on phone and account numbers can be done at the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Semak Mule website (http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule/).

       "Those with information on any scams can report to the CCID scam Response Centre at 03-26101559/1599.

       "The public can also contact Brickfields police at 03-22979222 or the KL police hotline at 03-21460584/0585 or the nearest police station," he said.