Luxury condo raids expose syndicates impersonating Delhi Police and running US-targeted romance scams.

Malaysian police have crippled two international scam syndicates operating from high-end Kuala Lumpur condominiums, exposing call centers that posed as Indian authorities and US-based lovers to extort victims overseas.

Fake ‘Delhi Police’ In Macau Scam Raid
On April 23, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) officers raided a luxury condominium in Kuala Lumpur, arresting 22 suspects – Malaysians, Taiwanese, Pakistani and Indian nationals – allegedly involved in a “Macau Scam” targeting victims in India. CCID director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the syndicate impersonated Indian authorities and accused targets of spreading seditious content. To deepen the deception, members donned “Delhi Police” uniforms with the name tag “Inspector Sunil Kumar” during video calls, deliberately instilling fear so victims would comply with demands for payment.

Scripts, Phone Lists And Fear-Based Extortion
Investigators found the syndicate had been supplied with lists of victim phone numbers and 12 customised scripts in multiple languages, including Tamil. These scripts guided callers as they accused victims of imaginary offences and pressured them to transfer money to purportedly “resolve investigations.” The operation was run entirely from the condo, with suspects rarely leaving the building to avoid detection. According to Rusdi, even immediate neighbours were often unaware that a fully fledged scam call center was operating next door.

Love Scam Cell Targeting Victims In The United States
A second raid the following day uncovered a separate “love scam” ring also operating from a high-end condominium. Police arrested 13 people, including Malaysians and nationals from China, Myanmar and Vietnam, believed to be running romance frauds aimed at victims in the United States. The syndicate used fake profiles via applications such as PIGSMS to build online relationships, then shifted conversations to WhatsApp and Telegram to request money under emotional pretexts. Given that the victims are American, Malaysian authorities will share information and cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on follow-up actions.

High-Security Condos As Hidden Call Centres
Rusdi said both syndicates rented luxury condominium units with monthly rents above RM3,000 and tight security, using them as covert call centres. Members lived, ate and slept inside, minimising outside movement so building management, neighbours and police patrols would see little activity. This model, increasingly common in transnational scams, allows syndicates to base operations in seemingly respectable environments while directing attacks on victims thousands of kilometres away.

Legal Action And Ongoing International Cooperation
Both cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for immigration offences. In the love scam case, eight foreign suspects have been charged under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code for criminal conspiracy. Rusdi stressed that the CCID is working closely with foreign police forces and embassies to share arrest data and curb cross-border fraud. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the raids highlight how regional hubs can be misused as scam bases, and why joint enforcement and public vigilance against unsolicited calls and online romance pitches remain essential.

The dismantling of the “Macau” and love scam call centres in Kuala Lumpur reveals how sophisticated syndicates exploit uniforms, scripted fear and fake affection to target overseas victims from behind high-security condo doors. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the cases underscore the importance of cross-border policing, better platform safeguards and personal scepticism toward unsolicited authority calls or sudden online romances, as international scam networks keep evolving across the region.

Sources: Malay Mail (2026) , Free Malaysia Today (2026)

Keywords: Bukit Aman CCID, Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, Delhi Police Impersonation, PIGSMS App, FBI Cooperation, Luxury Condominium Call Centre