Summary
- Police raided a homestay in Batu Ferringhi on Aug 23.
- Twenty foreign men aged 19 to 41 were arrested.
- Police suspect the group operated online love scams targeting victims in China.
- Phones, laptops, notebooks and telecommunications equipment were seized.
GEORGE TOWN, August 25 — Penang police arrested 20 foreign men following a raid on a Batu Ferringhi homestay suspected of being used as an online love scam call centre.
The Northeast district commercial crime investigation team and Batu Ferringhi police conducted the raid at about 7.05pm on Aug 23.
Police said the suspects, aged 19 to 41, allegedly used Telegram to target victims in China. Mobile phones, laptops, notebooks and telecommunications equipment were seized.
The case is being investigated under Sections 420 and 120B of the Penal Code. All suspects were remanded for four days until Aug 27.
