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The Police have arrested a 29-year-old Singaporean man following his deportation from Cambodia. He is believed to be involved in overseas scam operations and money mule offences.

Between May 2021 and March 2022, the man purportedly abetted another individual to open a personal bank account as well as a corporate bank account and assisted the scam syndicate to secure access to the bank's internet banking system by facilitating the sharing of login details, one-time passwords and/or Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards. The bank accounts were allegedly used to receive illicit funds from scam activities. The man subsequently departed Singapore. 

In March 2026, the man was arrested by Cambodian authorities for allegedly being part of an online scam syndicate. He was detained in Cambodia for immigration offences and subsequently deported to Singapore. Upon his arrival in Singapore on 10 April 2026, he was placed under arrest by officers from the Anti-Scam Command.

The man will be charged in court on 11 April 2026 with the offences of abetment by conspiracy to cheat under Section 417 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code (Chapter 224) and abetment to commit unauthorised access to computer material under Section 3(1) read with Section 10(1) and Sec 12(1) of the Computer Misuse Act (Chapter 50A). 

The offence of cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code (Chapter 224) carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both. The offence of facilitating unauthorised access to computer material under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act (Chapter 50A) carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine or both, for a first conviction.

Apart from taking robust action against local money mules, the Police will continue working with international law enforcement partners to identify, target and disrupt scam centre operators. The Police remain committed to working closely with international law enforcement partners to combat transnational scams and will spare no effort to bring criminals to justice, even those operating beyond our borders. The Police take a serious view of persons involved in scam activities and perpetrators will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should reject requests by others to use their bank accounts or mobile lines as they will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.

With effect from 30 December 2025, scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, which can go up to 24 strokes. Scam mules who enable scammers by laundering scam proceeds, providing SIM cards and providing Singpass credentials will face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes. These include certain money-laundering offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act; Singpass offences under the Computer Misuse Act; and certain SIM-card offences under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.

The Police would like to remind members of the public that anyone found to be linked to such crimes will be held accountable. 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. 

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Anyone with information on such scams may 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.

Photos of arrest