Investigators searched a rented house in Bandar Lampung and detained 21 men and six women allegedly involved in an international scam syndicate on Oct. 31, in an operation between the Bekasi Police and Bandar Lampung Police.

Bekasi Police criminal investigation division head Adj. Sr. Comr. Agta Bhuwana said the raid followed a report filed with their office about an Indonesian phone number believed to have been used multiple times for scam attempts.

The scammers, he said, allegedly pretended to be Chinese police when contacting their victims in China, most of whom were elderly, to accuse them of conducting criminal activity.

"These perpetrators then sent the victims their data, including bank details and photos of a room of what seemed to be a Chinese police station,” Agta said on Friday, as quoted by Tribunnews. “They also included a phishing link that, when victims clicked on it, would hack their phone and remotely conduct financial transactions.”

Investigators confiscated blue Chinese police uniforms and insignias, as well as smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices believed to be used for the scams.

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