Syndicate members impersonate immigration officers, scamming employers out of RM57,000 by promising to release detained foreign workers for payment.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor Immigration Department has uncovered a syndicate using a new tactic to defraud employers by impersonating immigration officers.
Syndicate members pose as officers and contact employers following enforcement operations, claiming they can secure the release of detained foreign workers.
State Immigration director Khairrul Aminus Kamaruddin said the syndicate operates as middlemen who exploit enforcement operations to target unsuspecting employers.
“Every time we conduct an operation, there will be scammers or individuals who misuse the Immigration Department’s name by calling employers and claiming to be Selangor immigration officers,” he told reporters after an operation in Pelangi Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
The syndicate requests payment through Touch ‘n Go applications or cash, promising to release detained workers.
Employers have paid between RM5,000 and RM10,000 per worker without verifying the claims.
Victims only discover the scam when they visit the immigration office in Shah Alam and find the payment phone numbers are no longer active.
Khairrul Aminus said the fraudulent activity has been active since last month, causing losses of approximately RM57,000 to several employers.
The syndicate also uses names and photographs of actual immigration officers to convince employers to make payments.
Several police reports have been lodged regarding these incidents.
The department advises employers not to deal with third parties for worker release matters.
If foreign workers are detained, employers must present original documents for verification before release procedures can begin.
“Most of them have valid documents, but their passports are held by the employer,” Khairrul Aminus said.
“Therefore, the employer must bring the original passport, and we will release the workers according to the proper procedure.” – Bernama
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