Malaysian police recently launched a raid operation that successfully dismantled a transnational telecommunications fraud syndicate targeting Japanese citizens, arresting 19 foreign suspects including 13 Japanese men, a development that has shocked Japanese society.
According to Malaysian media citing police reports, the operation was carried out in May, with the police having long identified the group's practice of impersonating officers from the Osaka Prefectural Police and prosecutors to deceive victims. The syndicate primarily used phone calls and encrypted communication software to pressure Japanese victims into surrendering funds and personal information.
The 13 arrested Japanese suspects were frontline fraudsters, commonly referred to as "dog pushers," responsible for communicating with victims and inducing them to transfer money. They are considered key players within the group. The police noted that the syndicate had a tight structure with clearly defined roles, including technicians specialized in disguising phone numbers and forging official documents.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that several suspects were involved in major fraud cases. Currently, Malaysian police are closely cooperating with the Japanese Embassy in Malaysia to discuss deportation matters. Japanese police have also initiated a cooperative investigation mechanism and are urging the public to remain vigilant against such cross-border impersonation frauds.
