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The Police have arrested a 24-year-old Malaysian man for his suspected involvement in a case of government official impersonation scam (“GOIS”).

On 25 October 2025, the Police received a report where a victim was deceived by scammers who impersonated officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The victim was told that he had been implicated in an offence and was required to surrender funds for investigative purposes. Following the scammers' instructions, the victim handed over jewellery worth approximately $80,000, two luxury watches worth approximately $11,000, and cash of $25,600 to unknown persons.

Through extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations, officers from Police Operations Command Centre, Bedok Police Division and Anti-Scam Command established the identity of a man involved. The 24-year-old Malaysian man was subsequently detained at Woodlands Checkpoint on the same day. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had collected the cash and valuables from the victim before leaving Singapore within the next hour. The cash and valuables were then handed over to an unknown person in Malaysia. The man was arrested when he returned to Singapore the second time within the same day. The man is believed to be involved in other similar cases and was facilitating the scam syndicate to retain benefits from criminal conduct.

The man will be charged in court on 27 October 2025 with the offence of abetment by conspiracy to assist another to retain benefits from criminal conduct under Section 51 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, a fine not exceeding $500,000, 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.

We would like to remind members of the public to NEVER transfer or hand monies/ valuables to unknown persons and persons whose identity you did not verify. NEVER place monies or valuables at a physical location to facilitate subsequent collection. Do not share the screens of your devices with any unknown persons. Singapore Government officials, including those from MAS, will never ask members of the public to do the following things over a phone call:

1. Ask you to transfer money;   
2. Ask you to disclose banking log-in details;   
3. Ask you to install mobile apps from unofficial app stores; or  
4. Transfer your call to Police

If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’. For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.