Landing page banner

The Police have arrested a 34-year-old Malaysian man for his suspected involvement in a case of Government Officials Impersonation Scam (GOIS). This brings the number of Malaysians arrested in Singapore since March 2026 for facilitating scam syndicates to collect cash and valuables to 17.

On 14 April 2026, the Police received a report from a victim who had received a call from an unknown person claiming to be from M1 Singapore. The caller informed the victim that she had been enrolled in an M1 mobile line contract plan, and that she would be charged for a two-year subscription. When the victim denied having signed up for an M1 mobile line contract plan, her call was transferred to two scammers claiming to be from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). 

These scammers created a sense of urgency and fear by falsely claiming that the victim was under investigation for money laundering. On the same day, the victim was instructed to hand over $ 21,000 in cash for investigation. She later realised she had been scammed and lodged a police report.

Through extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations, officers from the Anti-Scam Command and Clementi Police Division established the identity of the 34-year-old man and arrested him on 24 April 2026.

The man will be charged on 25 April 2026 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. 

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 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, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.