The 58 suspects detained included two Malaysians with the foreigners mostly being Chinese nationals. (Photo: Facebook/Polis Kontinjen Kelantan)

Kelantan love scam ring allegedly targeting Singapore men busted, 58 suspects arrested

The syndicate, which appears to have been operating for about a month, used women posing as Indonesians to lure victims emotionally, said Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat on Thursday (Apr 23).

24 Apr 2026, 06:00 · CNA · Join

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KUALA LUMPUR: Police in Malaysia have arrested 58 people after busting an alleged love scam operating at a Kelantan resort believed to have targeted Singapore men.

The syndicate, which appears to have been operating for about a month, used women posing as Indonesians to lure victims emotionally, said Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat on Thursday (Apr 23).

“Their modus operandi was to send messages before building relationships through WhatsApp without video calls, and eventually deceiving victims into sending money,” Yusoff was quoted as saying by local media.

The rented resort premises had been converted into a call centre to run the purported scams, he added. The syndicate allegedly took up several rooms and a hall, reported local news outlet New Straits Times.

The operation is believed to have been running since late March from noon to midnight daily, and was managed by three supervisors and 55 operators.

Yusoff said that the 58 suspects detained included two Malaysians, with the foreigners mostly being Chinese nationals. The suspects - who comprise 53 men and five women - were aged between 20 and 30.

"Those arrested were people from China, Myanmar, India and Pakistan, as well as two locals,” Yusoff said.

Investigations found that 33 of the foreign nationals had valid travel documents while the others did not.

Police seized 46 computers, five laptops, 118 mobile phones, as well as eight routers, believed to include Starlink devices, used to ensure stable connectivity and evade detection, said Yusof.

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Police seized 46 computers, five laptops, 118 mobile phones as well as eight routers, believed to include Starlink devices, used to ensure stable connectivity and evade detection. (Photo: Facebook/Polis Kontinjen Kelantan)

Starlink devices are satellite internet networks known for their high-speed internet connectivity.

"The total value of the seized items is estimated at RM179,000 (US$45,000)," said Yusoff at the Kelantan police headquarters.

Police have yet to determine total losses from the scams as no reports have been lodged by any victims.

Yusof added that the Wednesday raid was conducted after intelligence was gathered by the Kelantan police’s commercial crime investigation department.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 and 120B of the Penal Code for cheating and criminal conspiracy, respectively. If convicted, suspects could face a jail term of up to 10 years, caning, and possible fines.

All suspects have been remanded for four days since Thursday to assist in investigations.

Yusoff said commercial crime cases in Kelantan had increased by 100 per cent since 2024, and emphasised that the police viewed such online scams seriously.

"We will continue to intensify efforts to combat these syndicates, which not only cause financial losses but also tarnish the country's image internationally," he said.

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