Kedah police bust online scam syndicate posing as Indian police officers

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —

Kedah police dismantled an online fraud network that masqueraded as Indian police officers after a coordinated raid on a shop‑lot in Bandar Putra, Kulim, on Friday, 9 October 2026, arresting 48 suspects in the operation.

The joint operation, launched at 8 p.m. on 9 October, targeted a three‑storey shop‑lot that the syndicate had occupied since late August. Investigators recovered 89 mobile phones, seven laptops, modems, monitors, Indian police uniforms, Indian national flags, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) flags and other paraphernalia, with the total value of the seized items estimated at RM70,000. The police also seized bank‑account details that had been used to receive the fraudulent transfers.

Datuk Adzli said the 48 arrested individuals comprised seven Malaysian nationals, eight Indian nationals and 33 Pakistani nationals, all aged between 20 and 43. He explained that many of the suspects claimed they had been recruited after responding to job advertisements on social media.

“They were told they would be employed and were added to a Telegram group where they were promised salaries of around RM2,500 to RM3,500 a month,” he told reporters at the Kedah Contingent Police headquarters.

Further investigation revealed that the suspects had entered Malaysia without valid travel documents, a breach that will see them charged under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 in addition to fraud‑related offences. The police said the case will be pursued under Section 420 and Section 120B of the Penal Code, which cover cheating and criminal conspiracy respectively.

In the days following the initial raid, police made additional arrests. At 6 p.m. on Sunday, 11 October, two local men and three local women, aged 44 to 51, were taken into custody for acting as owners, real‑estate agents and renters of the premises used by the fraudsters. The five were arrested in Kulim and Tanjung Piandang, Perak. Checks on the new suspects showed no prior criminal records.

The operation, according to the police chief, was made possible by information supplied by the public. “The success of this operation is the result of public information, so the police would like to thank the public for staying alert to their surroundings,” Datuk Adzli said, urging anyone with tips on scam activities to forward them to the authorities.

The raid underscores a growing trend of cross‑border cyber‑fraud that exploits the trust placed in law‑enforcement symbols. By impersonating Indian police officers, the syndicate was able to convince victims that their personal data were under investigation, prompting hurried transfers to the accounts it controlled. The use of Telegram, a platform known for its encrypted channels, allowed the fraudsters to coordinate the scheme while evading detection.

The financial impact on the victims, nearly RM1.4 million, highlights the vulnerability of overseas Malaysians and foreign nationals to sophisticated online scams. While the police have not disclosed the identities of the victims, the figure suggests a sizeable operation that could have continued unchecked without the coordinated effort of Kedah law‑enforcement agencies.

The arrests also reveal a complex web of actors from three different nationalities, reflecting the transnational nature of many modern fraud operations. The presence of Indian police uniforms and CBI flags among the seized items indicates the lengths to which the perpetrators went to lend credibility to their ruse. The inclusion of Pakistani nationals, who formed the bulk of those arrested, points to recruitment networks that extend beyond the immediate locality of the shop‑lot.

Legal proceedings are expected to commence shortly, with the suspects facing charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and illegal entry. The police have not indicated whether any of the seized bank accounts will be frozen or if restitution will be pursued for the victims.

The Kedah police’s swift action sends a clear signal to other criminal groups that cross‑border scams will be met with decisive enforcement. By publicising the details of the operation, the police hope to deter similar schemes and encourage greater vigilance among the public, both in Malaysia and abroad.