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A 44-year-old Malaysian man will be charged in court on 6 March 2026 for his suspected involvement in a case of Government Official Impersonation Scam (GOIS). Since May 2025, more than 50 Malaysians have been arrested and charged for facilitating scam syndicates to collect cash and valuables. with nine arrests made this year.

On 4 March 2026, the Police received a report from a victim who was contacted by someone claiming to be from Harvey Norman regarding a purchase of an electrical appliance costing more than $10,000. When the victim denied making any purchase, the caller advised him to check his bank account for any unauthorised transactions. He was also provided with a contact number for the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regarding the purchase. 

The victim was subsequently contacted by another person claiming to be a MAS officer, who informed him that he is involved in a criminal case. The scammer instructed the victim to hand over his jewellery to an “undercover agent” for the investigation. Later that day, the victim handed over his jewellery worth more than $28,000 to the Malaysian man in the vicinity of Telok Blangah Rise. 

Through follow-up investigations by officers from Tanglin Police Division and Commercial Affairs Department, the man was promptly identified and arrested in the vicinity of Bishan. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had been tasked by unknown persons, believed to be part of a transnational scam syndicate, to collect valuables or cash from scam victims and hand it over to other unknown persons. The suspect allegedly changed into different attire when meeting his victims during collection operations.

The man will be charged with the offence of assisting 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 continue to observe an increasing trend of Malaysian nationals travelling to Singapore to assist scam syndicates in collecting cash and valuables from scam victims. With effect from 30 December 2025, scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, up to a maximum of 24 strokes. Scam mules who enable scammers by laundering scam proceeds will face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes. This includes certain money-laundering offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. 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.

Under the Facility Restriction Framework, individuals involved in mule-related offences – whether they are under investigation and assessed to be at risk, or have been warned, issued with composition sums, prosecuted, or convicted – may face restrictions on banking services and mobile line subscriptions to prevent further facilitation of scams.

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. Members of the public are reminded to:

• Never transfer cash, jewellery or other valuables to unknown persons whose identity has not been verified. 
• Never leave money or valuables at a location to facilitate subsequent collection. 
• Never share the screen of your device or disclose login credentials to anyone you do not know.

Singapore Government officials, including those from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), will never: 

• Ask you to transfer money over the phone;   
• Request your banking login details;   
• Instruct you to install mobile apps from unofficial app stores; or  
• Transfer your call to the Police.

If you have any information relating to such crimes or are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit information 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.