KUCHING: Police have confirmed that at least 16 Malaysians, initially “rescued” from overseas job scams, had left the country with the intention of becoming scammers themselves.
In a press conference, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Deputy Director (Investigations/Legal) DCP Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa revealed that these individuals, despite being brought back to Malaysia, expressed a continued desire to work abroad.
As of now, the whereabouts of these 16 individuals remain unknown, as they have not returned to Malaysia.
“These individuals were unemployed and managed to secure jobs overseas as scammers or recruiters. However, upon returning to Malaysia, they find themselves unemployed again and still express a desire to work overseas,” explained DCP Rusdi.
He noted that these individuals had returned to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, the United States of America, Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia, and the Philippines.
He told the media this after the closing of the Sarawak and Sabah Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) Enforcement Course here on Friday (March 1).
Meanwhile, Bukit Aman CID Deputy Director (Intelligence/Operations) DCP Fadil Marsus clarified that these Malaysians have not committed any offences. However, upon their rescue and return, they often pose as victims of job scams.
According to police intelligence, Malaysians are known to go abroad to work as recruiters and scammers, engaging in fraudulent activities that target individuals from different countries.
While investigating such cases under Section 12 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) for recruitment, authorities face challenges in verifying exploitation occurring abroad, making it difficult to prosecute.
DCP Fadil highlighted a case where Malaysians were arrested before the commission of the offence, as they gathered at a hotel in preparation to fly abroad for recruitment purposes. However, the exploitation had not yet occurred.
Police are urging Malaysians to exercise caution when accepting job offers, both within the country and overseas.
Recommendations include verifying the validity of prospective employers with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtaining detailed information about the recruiting company, employer, and job scope, and carefully reading all contracts before signing.
In case of falling victim to a scam, individuals are advised to seek help from local authorities, the Malaysian Embassy, or ask family members to file a police report in Malaysia.
