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The Police will be charging a 49-year-old Singaporean man and six Malaysian men, aged between 19 and 32, for their suspected involvement in fraudulently registering SIM cards.

Between 21 and 22 May 2026, officers from the Anti-Scam Command carried out an island-wide enforcement operation against errant retailers engaged in the registration of postpaid SIM cards that were subsequently used by overseas syndicates in scams. The seven men were arrested for their suspected involvement in the fraudulent registration of SIM cards that facilitated criminal activities. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that all of them had used the information of actual customers to register for additional postpaid SIM cards. They then supplied the SIM cards registered using another person’s information to other persons. The mobile lines were subsequently featured in impersonation scams. 

All seven persons will be charged in court on 23 May 2026 with the offence of facilitation of fraudulent registration of SIM cards that facilitate criminal activity under Section 39G 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 offender shall also be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes. 

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.