BATU PAHAT: Johor police's pre-dawn raid on a quiet bungalow here ended with the arrest of 15 men linked to a high-tech job scam syndicate targeting Russians through bogus online employment offers.

The 5.15am swoop on May 25, carried out by the state Commercial Crime Investigation Department and district police officers, led to the arrest of a Malaysian and 14 foreign nationals aged between 21 and 38.

Police seized 14 laptops and 19 mobile phones, worth an estimated RM30,000, believed to have been used to orchestrate the scam.

Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the syndicate had been operating since March and used artificial intelligence (AI) tools to dupe victims into believing that the offers were legitimate.

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The bungalow was converted to a calling centre to targeting their oversea victims.

Investigations are underway under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum 10-year jail term, whipping, and a fine, and Section 120B(2) for criminal conspiracy, punishable by up to six months' jail, a fine, or both.

"The operation reflected police's commitment to dismantling cybercrime networks exploiting Malaysia as a launchpad," Kumar said in a statement today.

The case adds to growing concern over AI-driven scams.

Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime data, recorded over 12,000 online fraud cases in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with losses nearing RM574 million.

Kumar advised the public to remain cautious of unsolicited job offers and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.