Secret societies using influencers to recruit new blood

New Straits Times

27-04-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Secret societies are turning to social media influencers to promote their activities and attract new followers, especially teenagers and school students.
Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Datuk Fadil Marsus said that in the past, secret societies would recruit students in person outside of school.
Now, the secret societies use influencers with large followings among younger social media users.
"Most of them are drawn to the activities highlighted by these influencers," he said in a report by Sinar Ahad.
"The secret societies pay these influencers to promote their activities," he said, adding that police were monitoring the situation. He added that investigations are ongoing.
Fadil said secret societies resorted to criminal activities like robbery, extortion, gambling, human trafficking, and smuggling to generate enough money to survive.
Some also ran protection rackets by intimidating business owners with "threats" that actually came from the group itself.
"They will harass and disrupt the operations of businesses and at the same time, threaten them for money," he said.
Last month, Selangor police arrested six men, aged 20 to 40, who promoted a secret society on TikTok.