IPOH: Police have arrested four suspects believed to be members of a syndicate that offers fake vehicle number plate registration services.
Acting Perak police chief Deputy Comm Zulkafli Sariaat said three men and one woman aged 27 to 52 were arrested in several locations in the country in connection with the case.
He said the arrests were made after a 22-year-old victim from Kampar lodged a report on Jan 8 alleging that he had been cheated in a vehicle registration number purchase through social media.
“The complainant wanted to purchase a vehicle registration number advertised for RM2,000.
“On the direction the syndicate gave, the complainant deposited RM1,000; after that, his (complainant) number was blocked.
“The complainant realised that he had been deceived when he checked with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Ipoh and found out that the registration number was already registered under another individual’s name,” he said in a statement Wednesday (Jan 15).
DCP Zulkafli said checks also found that the company name used by the syndicate in question did not exist and was not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia.
Based on all the information received, three raids were carried out between Jan 10 and 14, during which the four individuals were arrested in Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan; Setapak, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Kedah.
He said several items, such as mobile phones, ATM cards, computers and printers, were seized.
“The syndicate chief, employees, mule account holders and a registration plate maker were those arrested.
“In addition to victims in Perak, the syndicate members have deceived several other victims in Selangor, Kedah and Johor.
“Based on the company name and the bank account numbers used by the syndicate, we concluded that eight police reports have been lodged against the syndicate with the total loss amounting to RM71,400,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
All the suspects have been remanded until Jan 17.
He urged the public not to be hasty in making payments for purchases of goods online.
“Anyone who wants to order a vehicle registration number offered online must check with JPJ first,” he added.
