Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police Land Divisions conducted a two-week operation between 29 September 2023 and 19 October 2023. A total of 332 men and 147 women, aged between 13 and 77, are assisting in investigations for their suspected involvement in scams, as scammers or money mules. The suspects are believed to be involved in more than 1,400 cases of scams, comprising mainly of job scams, malware-enabled scams, investment scams, internet love scams, government officials impersonation scams and phishing scams, where victims reportedly lost more than $9.6 million.
The suspects are being investigated for the offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine. The offence of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. The offence of carrying on a business to provide any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence under Section 5 of the Payment Services Act 2019 carries a fine of up to $125,000, an imprisonment term of up to three years, or both.
The Police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.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. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 October 2023 @ 5:03 PM