Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Zainuddin Yaacob said the syndicate, which also comprised 19 men, had been operating for two years.

“Several individuals in the group were trained in Cambodia before working in Laos since the middle of 2018.

“They returned to Malaysia in May due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said at a press conference here.

He said syndicate members received between RM3,000 and RM4,000 a month and were provided food and shelter.

Zainuddin said the syndicate operated in several locations in the state, namely Menglembu and Taiping. They moved their operations to a premise in Ipoh in the middle of December.

He said the syndicate used the latest apps in the market to scam their victims.

“They also obtained information on their victims through the dark web, while some impersonated police officers from Terengganu and Telekom Malaysia personnel.”

Zainuddin said that the syndicate managed to con a total of RM360,000 from their victims.

Police are now investigating the syndicate under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and the Prevention of Crime Act.