The Police have arrested 31 persons and are investigating 13 others for their suspected involvement in fraudulently registering SIM cards.
Between 17 July and 25 July 2025, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department, Criminal Investigation Department and the seven Police Land Divisions conducted an island-wide enforcement operation against errant subscribers registering postpaid SIM cards used for criminal activities. A total of 21 men and 10 women, aged between 16 and 48, were arrested for their suspected involvement in providing fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards for monetary gains. Another nine men and four women, aged between 16 and 57, are assisting with investigations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that these errant subscribers were purportedly offered cash rewards between $10 and $15 per registered SIM card. Each of these subscribers had allegedly handed over between 31 and 49 SIM cards, registered under their names, to the criminal syndicate. These subscribers were allegedly instructed to sign up and purchase SIM cards in bulk across different retailers before handing them over to their couriers.
Criminal syndicates exploit local SIM cards and eSIMs as a channel of communication for scams, unlicensed moneylending and vice, among other illicit activities.
The offence of knowingly providing a fraudulently registered SIM card to another person to facilitate a crime for any gain under Section 39B(1) read with 39B(2)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 carries a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or 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 individuals who misuse their eSIM/SIM card via reselling, allowing others to use their SIM cards, helping other individuals to register or holding multiple SIM cards without a legitimate reason.
For more information on misuse of SIM cards, members of the public can visit Misuse of SIM Card Offences (https://www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Crime/ 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 fraudulent registration of SIM cards. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
28 July 2025 @ 10:50 PM