The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force and the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) have conducted a joint operation against a transnational internet love scam syndicate based in Kuala Lumpur.
On 19 May 2020, acting on information provided by CAD, officers from CCID raided an apartment in Kuala Lumpur and arrested a 30-year-old Malaysian woman and three Nigerian men aged between 30 and 35. The criminal syndicate is believed to be responsible for eight or more internet love scams reported in Malaysia and Singapore, involving losses of more than S$400,000. Several telecommunication devices and a laptop were seized during the operation.
Director CAD, Mr David Chew said, “Notwithstanding the global lockdown in trade and human traffic, criminals use the internet to target victims across international boundaries. To keep Singapore safe, CAD collaborates with likeminded international counterparts like the CCID, RMP to deny such criminals safe refuge. I would like to thank Director CCID, Commissioner Dato Sri Mohd Zakaria Ahmad and his officers from the Intelligence and Operations Division of CCID for their strong support and commitment in tackling cross border scams. While we will continue this fight, members of the public can take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones from falling prey to scammers operating on social media. Be careful when befriending strangers online, they may not be whom they portray themselves to be on their Facebook and Instagram page. Be wary when these “friends” ask for money or foreign officials call you to demand money to release parcels sent by them.”
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 0000or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
24 May 2020 @ 8:35 PM