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The Police have arrested a 37-year-old Malaysian man for his suspected involvement in a case of Government Official Impersonation Scam (“GOIS”).

On 28 September 2025, the Police received a report of GOIS involving the impersonation of a government official purportedly from the “Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)”. The victim was told by an alleged “government agency officer” that the funds in her bank account were misused and her bank account was involved in money laundering. The victim was subsequently contacted by different individuals who allegedly claimed to be from the “MAS” and was instructed to surrender her money and valuables for the purpose of investigations. She followed the scammers’ instructions and handed over cash of over $4,400 and an assortment of valuables, worth approximately $2,000 to an unknown person.

Through extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations, officers from Tanglin Police Division and the Anti-Scam Command established the identity of the unknown person as a 37-year-old man and he was arrested when he re-entered Singapore on 14 November 2025. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had collected the cash and valuables from the victim before leaving Singapore shortly after. The cash and valuables were then handed over to another unknown person in Malaysia. The man is believed to be involved in other similar cases and was facilitating the operations of the scam syndicate. 

The man will be charged in court on 15 November 2025 with the offence of abetment by conspiracy to assist another 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. 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. 

Members of the public are reminded to NEVER transfer or hand monies/ valuables to unknown persons and persons whose identity you did not verify. NEVER place monies or valuables at a physical location to facilitate subsequent collection. Do not share the screens of your devices with any unknown persons. Singapore Government officials, including those from MAS, will never ask members of the public to do the following over a phone call: 

1. Ask you to transfer money;   
2. Ask you to disclose banking log-in details;   
3. Ask you to install mobile apps from unofficial app stores; or  
4. Transfer your call to Police

If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it 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, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

Photo of Arrest