BENTONG: Another Malaysian was arrested by Taiwan police for allegedly working as runner for a scam syndicate.

This is the second case after the case of Malaysian internet celebrity Ady Hu was reported in the media.

The man from Bentong was not allowed to leave Taiwan, according to Lee Chin Chen, the deputy speaker of Pahang state legislative assembly and Bilut state assemblyman.

Lee was assisting Hu’s parents to search for Hu, said to be missing in Taiwan but later found to have been arrested by Taiwan police for allegedly working as runner for a scam syndicate.

Lee said he contacted the second Malaysian man’s father, who was in the dark about the arrest.

The man told Lee a friend referred him to work in Taiwan.

He arrived at Taiwan on 14 December to start work and was arrested by the police two days later while he was “working”.

The man’s passport and handphone were held by the syndicate, said Lee, adding that Taiwan authorities had barred the man from leaving Taiwan.

Since Hu’s case was reported in the media, Lee has received reports of similar cases from different parts of Malaysia, showing that more and more Malaysians have been duped to work for scam syndicates based in Taiwan.

Media reports in Taiwan said 64 Malaysians were found to have committed fraud in Taiwan as of September this year.

The figure is higher than the 59 Malaysian reported in 2023, said Lee, adding that the number is increasing.

Chinese Malaysians have become targets for scam syndicates in Taiwan offering Malaysians lucrative salaries to work as runners as they are Mandarin-literate and do not need visas to travel to Taiwan.