Seven men have been arrested in Malaysia on charges of fraud following a series of SMS based scams. The fraud is reported to have netted the gang up to MYR1 million (US$313,000). The men, in their 30s and 40s, who were arrested in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur are reported to be behind a series of SMS scams reported in Johor, Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan and Perak.
The SMS messages claimed that the recipients had won a prize, varying from cash to motor vehicles and were instructed to call a landline number to claim. However, in a move similar to the 419 scam emails, the winners were required to pay an administration fee into a bank account before their prize could be delivered. Naturally, the prizes never arrived.
The suspects have been remanded by a magistrate’s court.
Posted to the site on 8th April 2008
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