Second Fraud Hub Raided in Malaysia's Perak State: Nine Japanese and Four Chinese Nationals Detained, Fake Japanese Police IDs Seized
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Malaysian police announced on September 24, 2026 that they had raided a house in western Perak State believed to serve as a base for special fraud operations, detaining nine Japanese nationals — seven men and two women — along with four Chinese nationals. According to TV Asahi's ANN and other outlets, mobile phones and computers were seized from the residence, along with fake Japanese police identification booklets and fraud scripts written in Japanese. The group is believed to have targeted people in Japan.
Police believe the group had been operating since around August 2026, and are investigating indications that some members had worked in Cambodia and received payment there before entering Malaysia. On September 16 of the same year, another house in Perak State was raided as a fraud base, with six Japanese nationals and one Chinese man detained (related coverage), meaning two raids took place within the same state over a short period.
Current status: The specific roles of the 13 detainees, the total losses caused by the fraud, and the outlook for their repatriation or transfer to Japan remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Regarding Southeast Asia-based fraud operations targeting Japan, a similar raid took place in Bangkok, Thailand in September 2026. Related coverage
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.