Two women, aged 28 and 30, will be charged in court on 7 May 2019 with offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Offences (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.
In 2017, the Police received several reports from victims of internet love scams who were asked by online scammers to transfer money to various local bank accounts. The total amount lost by the victims is at least S$340,000. In these scams, victims unsuspectingly befriended scammers on social media platforms and developed online relationships with them. The scammers would then cheat the victims to transfer money for various fictitious purposes, such as business loans, legal fees or courier fees for parcels that the scammers claim to be sending to the victims. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 30-year-old woman is suspected to have provided her bank accounts to overseas criminal syndicates, and also recruited the 28-year-old woman to assist in money-laundering offences, by opening bank accounts and bringing the illicit proceeds out of Singapore.
Anyone found guilty of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Offences (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, faces up to 10 years' imprisonment, or a fine up to S$500,000, or to both. Anyone found guilty of acquiring or transferring criminal benefits under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Offences (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, faces up to 10 years' imprisonment, or a fine up to S$500,000, or to both. Anyone found guilty for failing to give requisite reports on cash movements out of Singapore, may be punished with imprisonment of up to 3 years, or a fine up to S$50,000, or to both.
Internet love scams remains a serious crime concern. To avoid falling prey to these scams, members of the public should be careful when befriending strangers online. They should also be wary when being asked to send money to people whom they do not know. For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
06 May 2019 @ 9:20 PM