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In a two-day island-wide operation conducted on 12 and 13 October 2023, officers from the Anti-Scam Command conducted simultaneous raids targeting eight handphone shops located at Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Woodlands, Admiralty, Beach Road, Selegie Road and Indus Road. Four men, aged between 25 and 44, were arrested for their suspected involvement in the fraudulent registration of postpaid SIM cards. Six men and three women, aged between 23 and 57, are assisting with investigations.  

Preliminary investigations revealed that the handphone shop retailers were believed to have accessed computer systems containing registration information for postpaid SIM cards. They had purportedly pre-registered postpaid SIM cards using particulars of others, such as their unsuspecting customers or foreigners, and sold them to customers who wanted to conceal their identities. An assortment of paraphernalia such as mobile phones and SIM cards were seized during the operation. 

Such fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards can be exploited as an anonymous channel of communication for unlicensed moneylending, scams, and vice, among other illicit activities. Scam syndicates were also found to have used such postpaid SIM cards to contact victims and to communicate amongst themselves, so as to evade possible detection. 

Investigations are ongoing. The offence of unauthorised modification of computer material under Section 5(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 carries a fine of up to $10,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding three years, or both. The offence of illegally obtaining personal information under Section 416A of the Penal Code 1871 carries a fine of up to $10,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding three years, or both.  

The Police take a serious stance against any person who engage in illegal acts and will continue to clamp down on errant handphone shop retailers who may be indirectly facilitating illegal activities. Those involved in such illegal activities will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Photos taken during the two-day island-wide operation ▼

Case exhibits seized ▼