KUALA LUMPUR: After two years of scamming people, a crime syndicate offering fake jobs in Australia has finally been busted by the police.

       Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said nine suspects, aged between 20 and 31, were arrested in two raids in the Klang Valley on April 27 in connection with the fraud.

       The police, he added, had received 28 reports, with losses amounting to RM155,472.

       “Based on information gathered, 1,023 people had lodged complaints against this scam,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Comm Mohd Kamarudin said the group had operated by offering fake job offers to Australia via online adverts.

       As soon as a job-seeker showed interest, they would be told to prepare their documents for the application and the fee.

       “The syndicate charged around RM1,400 for the processing cost and a screenshot of their application would be sent to assure the victims.

       “After payment, the scammers would send copies of the fake documents to the victim using letterheads of the Australian government’s Department of Home Affairs,” he said.

       Investigations showed that the group had targeted locals and foreigners living in Malaysia.

       They also changed the name of their company to avoid detection.

       Some of the names used online were Top Speed Agency Visa, Cos Consultant Agency and Eco Travel Malaysia.

       Checks showed that there were 658 pending applications, said Comm Mohd Kamarudin.

       He called on all to be wary of such scams offering suspicious job offers.

       He also urged past victims of this syndicate to come forward and lodge police reports.