Malaysian Police Arrest 335 in Forest City Scam Raids, Seizing 1 Million Ringgit

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 11

Mid-July raids across 32 Forest City premises dismantled two alleged scam hubs, with Malaysian police arresting 335 people and seizing about 1 million ringgit in assets.
Police said cryptocurrency syndicates used 27 apartments and five bungalows to run investment and romance scams targeting victims abroad; those detained included 309 Chinese nationals, 19 Indonesians, three Malaysians and four Myanmar nationals.
Johor police are working with Interpol to trace the mastermind, while residents and analysts say the raids likely exposed only part of a wider network still operating in the development.
Forest City’s vast vacancy appears central to its appeal for scammers: the $100 billion project was built for 700,000 residents but is thought to house under 1% of that, offering modern infrastructure and little scrutiny.
Analysts say the case reflects a broader shift in Southeast Asia’s scam industry, with operators displaced by Cambodia crackdowns moving into ordinary condos and commercial developments rather than isolated compounds.