From a distance, Malaysia’s Forest City appears as a 3‑D printed landscape of identical white blocks lining an unremarkable coastline.
Launched by Chinese developers in 2016 as a $100 billion project, it was marketed as a “dream paradise” that could house 700,000 residents. A decade later, less than 1% of that figure live there; towers stand empty and streets echo with silence.
In mid‑July, Johor police raided two alleged scam sites spread over 32 premises in Forest City, arresting 335 people, 309 of whom were Chinese nationals. Police seized 313 computers, 1,557 mobile phones, 17 laptops and 10 modems, with assets claimed to be worth about one million ringgit ($245,000).
The two call‑centre hubs – one in 27 apartments of a residential tower and the other in five bungalows – ran cryptocurrency‑based investment scams and online love‑letter fraud that lured victims abroad.
Authorities say the scammers used the complex’s “ghost‑city” atmosphere and available infrastructure to conceal their operations; the vacant units and international air‑connectivity offered a shield for money‑laundering and large‑scale fraud.
Researchers note the phenomenon is part of a bigger global scam industry that has professionalised, employing recruitment teams, IT departments and specialised money‑laundering specialists. The industry’s growth is driven by a mix of forced labour, exploitation and a demand for high‑tech scam infrastructure.
Local residents, some of whom have been immune to the crime, view it as a paradox: a luxury development that, while seemingly secure, silently buries millions of dollars through phishing and false investment schemes.
With police crackdowns spreading across Johor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur, the Forest City raid signals a new phase where “ghost cities” become ready-made platforms for sophisticated fraud networks.
