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The police have uncovered a fraudulent syndicate targeting senior citizens with fake part-time online jobs as hotel booking agents, according to Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.
The syndicate operated via WhatsApp using advertisements like "Job For Senior" or "Job For Old Timer." Victims were directed to create an account on the lynxoasis.com website to perform the tasks. "Interested victims were asked to open an account on lynxoasis.com and use their own money to book hotels, with promises of reimbursement and a commission of six to ten percent," Ramli explained. Although victims saw their commissions increase on the website, attempts to withdraw funds resulted in additional fees, leading to greater financial losses. So far, 21 police reports have been filed, with losses amounting to RM752,100.
In a separate incident, police dismantled an investment fraud syndicate preying on Sabah’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Eighteen individuals were arrested in multiple raids across Sabah, Perak, and Selangor on May 4-5. The arrested included 12 men and six women, aged 30 to 71.
This syndicate had been operating since 2019, offering investments purportedly related to Sabah SMEs. They falsely used the Prime Minister’s Department's name to legitimize their schemes, communicating with victims via WhatsApp and face-to-face meetings. The fraudulent investments promised high returns, such as a RM200,000 profit from a RM1,000 start-up investment within three months.
Those arrested were believed to be the masterminds, moderators, and mule account holders. They deceived victims into transferring money to multiple accounts but failed to deliver the promised profits. Ramli noted that 15 reports had been filed, with losses totaling RM2.98 million.
During the raids, police seized 28 bank debit cards, 24 mobile phones, two laptops, a tablet, and froze 15 bank accounts holding RM69,796.90. Additionally, a Toyota Hilux worth RM75,000 was confiscated, and 38 more bank accounts containing RM108,131.93 were frozen. All suspects are being remanded until Wednesday and are being investigated under Section 420 (for cheating) of the Penal Code.
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