KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - Scotland Yard investigators will arrive this week to interview Malaysians who had been duped into investing in a global investment scam, losing millions of ringgit in the process. The investigations co-ordinated by the Yard's National Crime Squad is expected to probe how Malaysians were introduced to the scam.

The NST had, on May 26, reported that the NCS had uncovered a global investment scam which made thousands of Southeast Asians poorer in the course of its investigations into a money laundering racket.

A source associated with the investigation said they had already identified a Malaysian who invested more than RM200,000 in the scam last year.

"They (the NCS) have been assured that he is willing to be interviewed and his identity will remain anonymous due to the nature of investigations under way," the source told the New Straits Times in an interview in London.

Attempts by the NST to obtain an official statement on the investigation from the NCS drew a blank.

"There has been too much publicity in the media regarding the investigations," NCS spokeswoman Jackie Bennet said when contacted in London. "We do not want to put those assisting us in the investigation under the spotlight."

The source said there were still many investors who have yet to realise they had been duped due to the nature of the scam, which was similar to a pyramid scheme.

The investigation, described to be widespread in nature, is expected to enable prosecutors in England to proceed in their task of bringing to book individuals charged with money laundering activities early this year.

Besides Malaysia, the investigation team is also expected to interview investors in neighbouring Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Attempts to obtain an official statement from the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman also drew a blank.

It was learnt that the Federal police believe this to be only the tip of the iceberg as other Malaysians may have been duped.

Coincidentally, while there was no official statement from Bukit Aman, Federal police Criminal Investigation Department assistant director Senior Assistant Commissioner Aasari Mokhtar returned from London on Thursday.

Having spent 10 days there, it was learnt that the "fraud expert" was given an insight on scams threatening global economies by London's Metropolitan police.

The NCS, a section under the Scotland Yard, was formed slightly more than a year ago to specialise in investigating organised crime activities.

Its formation followed the sudden emergence of crime syndicates from Hong Kong, China and the Russian mafia which have established a strong foothold in the United Kingdom in recent years.

Having identified several professionals believed to be responsible for money laundering activities in London, the NCS commenced investigations.

Several financial consultants, bankers and solicitors were arrested and charged in court for their alleged involvement in money laundering. They were later released on bail.