Landing page banner

The Police will be charging a 28-year-old Malaysian man and a 51-year-old Singaporean woman for their suspected involvement in fraudulently registering SIM cards.

On 7 May 2026, officers from the Anti-Scam Command carried out an enforcement operation against errant retailers engaged in the registration of postpaid SIM cards which were subsequently used by overseas syndicates in scams. The 28-year-old Malaysian man and the 51-year-old Singaporean woman were arrested for their suspected involvement in fraudulent registration of SIM card that facilitated criminal activities. Another four men and four women, aged between 17 and 61, are assisting in investigations.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the 28-year-old Malaysian man had used the information of actual customers to pre-register for additional postpaid SIM cards and the 51-year-old Singaporean woman had supplied SIM cards registered using another person’s information to other person. The mobile lines were subsequently featured in impersonation scams. 

Both persons will be charged in court on 9 May 2026. The man will be charged with the offence of facilitation of fraudulent registration of SIM card that facilitate criminal activity under Section 39G of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 and the woman will be charged with the offence of transacting of SIM card registered using another person’s personal information for criminal activity under 39D of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906. 

The offence of facilitation of fraudulent registration of SIM card that facilitates criminal activity under Section 39G of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 carries a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. If convicted, the individual shall also be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes. The offence of transacting of SIM card registered using another person’s personal information for criminal activity under Section 39D of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 carries a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to 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 retailers who fraudulently register additional SIM cards without authorisation, allowing others to use their SIM cards, helping other individuals to register or holding multiple SIM cards without a legitimate reason. Criminal syndicates have been exploiting local SIM cards as a channel of communication for scams, unlicensed moneylending and vice, among other illicit activities. Anyone found to be linked to such crimes will be held accountable. 

Under the Facility Restriction Framework, individuals involved in such 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 be prohibited from subscribing to new mobile lines to prevent further facilitation of scams.

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. 

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.