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The Police have arrested 45 persons and are investigating 27 others for their suspected involvement in registering SIM cards for illicit purposes.

Between 2 March and 13 March 2026, officers from the Anti-Scam Command and the seven Police Land Divisions carried out an island-wide enforcement against errant subscribers registering postpaid SIM cards which were subsequently linked to criminal activities. A total of 37 men and eight women, aged between 17 and 59, were arrested for their suspected involvement in providing registered postpaid SIM cards for monetary gains. Another 19 men and eight women, aged between 16 and 54, are assisting with investigations.

Preliminary investigations revealed these errant subscribers were offered cash rewards between $10 and $20 per registered SIM card. These subscribers were purportedly instructed to sign up and purchase SIM cards in bulk from different retailers, and handed over between 30 and 83 registered SIM cards to the syndicate’s courier. 

Criminal syndicates exploit local SIM cards as a channel of communication for scams, unlicensed moneylending and vice, among other illicit activities.

The offence of knowingly providing a registered SIM card to another person to facilitate a crime for any gain under Section 39B(1) read with 39B(2)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 carries a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.

The Police take a serious view of SIM cards being misused as a conduit for crimes and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who misuse their SIM cards via reselling, allowing others to use their SIM cards, helping other individuals to register or holding multiple SIM cards without a legitimate reason.

For more information on misuse of SIM cards, members of the public can visit Misuse of SIM Card Offences website at www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Misuse-of-SIM-Card-Offences. Members of the public can also call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in the registration of SIM cards for illicit purposes. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Arrest Photos