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A 40-year-old Malaysian man will be charged in court on 2 May 2026 for his suspected involvement in a Government Officials Impersonation Scam (GOIS). This brings the total number of Malaysians arrested in Singapore since March 2026 for facilitating scam syndicates to collect cash and valuables to 21.

On 29 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 he had been enrolled in an M1 mobile line contract plan, and that the mobile line was linked to a money-laundering investigation. When the victim denied having signed up for an M1 mobile line, he was referred to another scammer claiming to be from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

The scammers falsely led the victim to believe that he was under investigation for money laundering offences by the MAS. He was then instructed to show proof that his funds were clean and untainted. Following the scammers' instructions, the victim handed over cash, gold and valuables amounting to around $140,000 to the 40-year-old Malaysian man.

Through extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations, officers from the Anti-Scam Command and Jurong Police Division arrested the Malaysian man on 30 April 2026. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had been acting as a runner to collect cash, gold and valuables from victims, before bringing the items back to Malaysia. He is also believed to have used a fictitious company pass to impersonate a MAS-accredited officer. During the collections, the man also wore a wig to conceal his identity.

The man will be charged in court on 2 May 2026 with the offence of abetment by conspiracy to assist another person 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 ten 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, gold 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

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.

Fictious name and company pass to deceive victims

Wig which the Malaysian man wore to conceal his identity