35 Foreigners Held in Penang Love Scam, Gold Investment Raids

Police have arrested 35 foreign nationals in raids on two homes in Bayan Lepas over an alleged Penang love scam and gold investment syndicate, Bernama reported.

Barat Daya police chief ACP Anuwal Ab Wahab said the suspects were 33 men and a woman from China, and a man from Taiwan. They were picked up on Monday (Nov 2) in an operation by the district’s Commercial Crime Investigation Division together with the Penang Contingent Commercial Crime Investigation Department.

Chinese women targeted on Telegram

In a statement on Wednesday (Nov 4), Anuwal said preliminary investigations showed the syndicate had been operating since September.

The group allegedly targeted Chinese national women aged between 18 and 46 through the Telegram application, he said. Police described it as an “online fraud syndicate specialising in love scams and gold investment schemes”.

Penang love scam: Foreigners Held

During the raids, police seized 119 mobile phones, three laptops and chargers believed to have been used to carry out the syndicate’s activities. The items have a total estimated value of RM60,000.

All 35 suspects have been remanded to assist investigations under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code, Anuwal said.

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