In a 3-day operation conducted between 26 January and 28 January 2016, 47 suspects were rounded up for their suspected involvement in various online scams. The 24 men and 23 women, aged between 16 and 59, are suspected to be involved in 145 cases of online scams amounting to more than $132,000.
Most of the suspects are believed to have acted as “money mules†who received and transferred illegal funds on behalf of criminal syndicates. Other suspects are believed to have posed as online sellers of various products and did not deliver the products to their buyers upon receiving payment.
All of the suspects will be investigated for the offence of Cheating which carries a punishment of imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine, or money laundering offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, which carry a punishment of imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine of up to S$500,000.
The Police will take actions against scammers. Money found from illegal sources will be frozen for the purpose of investigations. Members of public should be vigilant when engaging in any form of online activity on the Internet and on social media applications as well as when they are shopping on online platforms. To avoid becoming a scam victim or being used as a “money muleâ€:
- Be wary of strangers who befriend you online. Think twice if such online “friends†ask you for money or ask you to receive money for them, as these funds may be from illegal sources.
- Never give your bank and credit card details and personal information to anyone you do not know or have not checked out.
- If you are purchasing something online, always check the track record of the party you are dealing with. Use reputable sites and payment platforms with established refund policies.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
29 January 2016 @ 6:45 PM