The Police have arrested a 38-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in several Internet Love Scams. She will be charged in court on 14 November 2017 with the offences of acquiring benefits from criminal conduct, transferring benefits from criminal conduct out of Singapore, and failing to give reports when moving cash exceeding the threshold amount of S$20,000 out of Singapore.
In early October 2017, the Police received reports from several victims of Internet Love Scams who were purportedly asked by online scammers to transfer money to various local bank accounts. The total amount lost by the victims is at least S$216,000. Investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department revealed that the bank account holders had passed the cash to the suspect who is believed to have carried the money out of Singapore to deliver it to the scam syndicate members.
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. In the first 6 months of 2017, the Police received 349 cases of such scams compared to 277 for the same period in 2016. 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.
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
13 November 2017 @ 6:30 PM