In a joint operation conducted by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), and Johor Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), the SPF and RMP officers crippled one transnational scam syndicate allegedly involved in money laundering activities in a raid conducted in Johor, Malaysia on 7 November 2022.
Since July 2022, the two Forces have shared critical intelligence and information based on findings from reported scam cases. The joint investigations identified a criminal syndicate’s money laundering cell operating in Johor, Malaysia. On 7 November 2022, CCID/RMP officers conducted a raid at an apartment complex in Johor, Malaysia and arrested a 33-year-old male Singaporean for his suspected involvement in managing cross border money transfers. He is believed to be responsible for laundering the criminal proceeds linked to scams targeting more than 50 victims of Investment Scams, Job Scams, Fake Friend Impersonation Scams, Government Officials Impersonation Scams and Loan Scams reported in Singapore involving losses amounting to more than S$3.7 million. Preliminary investigations indicated that the man is believed to have procured Singapore bank accounts through various chat platforms such as Telegram and Facebook. The bank accounts were subsequently used to launder the syndicate’s scam proceeds.
Simultaneously, officers from the Anti-Scam Command in Singapore arrested three men and one woman, aged between 17 and 36, for their suspected involvement in aiding the money laundering syndicate by handing over their personal bank accounts or relinquishing their Singpass accounts. Investigations against the three men and one woman are ongoing.
The Singaporean man was handed over to the SPF on 17 November 2022 and will be charged in court on 18 November 2022 for abetting by intentionally aiding unknown persons to secure access without authority to a program hosted in the server of a bank (“Computer Misuse Act offence”) and cheating. The offence of facilitating unauthorized access to computer material under Section 3 read with Section 12 of the Computer Misuse Act carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine, or both. The offence of cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code 1871 is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine.
Director CAD, Mr David Chew said, “Scams continue to be a crime of concern. I strongly urge the public to ignore offers of quick monetary gains in return for the use of your bank accounts on social media platforms like Telegram or Facebook. These illegal offers by transnational syndicates seek to abuse the surrendered bank accounts to launder the proceeds of their scams. The recent arrest in Malaysia, evidences our commitment to detect and dismantle these money laundering networks. The Singapore Police Force will continue to collaborate closely with our Malaysian counterparts to detect and deter these transnational syndicates who use the anonymity of the Internet to commit crimes. I would like to thank Johor Police Chief, Commissioner Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat and his officers from the Johor Commercial Crime Investigations Department for their strong support and commitment in tackling transnational crime syndicates that target our citizens. We will continue to take tough action against individuals who perpetuate scams even if they are based overseas”.
The Police would also like to advise members of the public to call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688 or visit www.scamalert.sg to seek scam-related advice. Join the ‘Let’s Fight Scams’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next scam victim.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
17 November 2022 @ 7:10 PM