Police in Malaysia raided online scam centers in Forest City, arresting over 300 people who used empty luxury apartments for cyber fraud.
Police officers in Malaysia carried out a massive law enforcement crackdown after criminal syndicates secretly converted empty luxury seaside apartments into illegal online scam hubs. The major raid took place inside Forest City, a famous hundred-billion-dollar housing development located along the coast of Johor in southern Malaysia. Operations unfolded in late July 2026, when armed police units stormed several high-rise residential towers to break up complex illegal operations running hidden call centers behind closed doors.
The sprawling seaside city was originally built by major Chinese property developers to serve as a grand paradise home for up to seven hundred thousand wealthy residents. However, because very few buyers ever moved in over the years, the massive development slowly turned into a lonely “ghost city” filled with empty towers and silent hallways. Criminal gangs took advantage of these quiet, underused properties and cheap rental rates, secretly setting up large internet fraud setups to trick victims across the world through love scams, fake investment schemes, and cryptocurrency fraud.
During the coordinated raid, law enforcement officers arrested three hundred and thirty-five people inside the residential apartments. Police records revealed that the vast majority of those detained were foreign citizens, including three hundred and nine individuals from China, nineteen from Indonesia, and three local Malaysian citizens. Officers also seized computers, hundreds of mobile phones, specialized routers, and financial assets valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
Reacting to the huge police intervention on their property grounds, the official management of Forest City issued a statement assuring the public that they are cooperating fully with government authorities to flush out criminal elements. Addressing the security situation, management representatives stated that “management at Johor’s Forest City has pledged to continue working closely with law enforcement in Malaysia to combat crime”. The management team also voiced strong support for police plans to set up a permanent station directly inside the local neighborhood, adding that “the developer supports setting up a permanent police station in the township to prevent future illegal activities and ensure public safety”.
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Government investigators explained that scam operators specifically chose this location because it offered fast internet connections, modern building infrastructure, and cheap rents near Singapore while remaining hidden away from busy city streets. Residents and regional safety monitors noted that turning empty property projects into security risks creates new problems for city planners. Commenting on the situation, international security analysts noted that “these seaside apartments were a ghost city, and when properties sit empty with high-tech connectivity, criminal groups quickly find ways to exploit the silence”.
Malaysian authorities have since charged over one hundred and fifty individuals involved in the operation as courts begin official legal proceedings. Police forces across Southeast Asia warned that they will continue inspecting empty housing estates to make sure online fraudsters do not set up shop in unused buildings again.
