The Police have arrested one man and two women, aged between 20 and 35, and are investigating 23 other persons for their suspected involvement in money mule activities. Over $500,000 in suspected scam proceeds was seized during the operation.
In collaboration with DBS Anti-Mule Team, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police Land Divisions conducted an island-wide operation against suspected money mule activities between 16 and 20 September 2024. Acting on information provided by DBS Bank, the Police identified the persons suspected of being involved in scams as money mules.
These persons are alleged to have relinquished their Singpass credentials, mostly over Telegram or Instagram, to criminal syndicates, for promised cash. Some of them are alleged to have handed over their Singpass credentials for fake loan, job and investment applications. Their Singpass credentials are then purportedly used by criminal syndicates to create shell companies and open corporate bank accounts for use in money laundering.
Investigations are ongoing into various offences, including assisting another to retain benefits of criminal conduct and unauthorised disclosure of access code. The offence of assisting another to retain benefits of criminal conduct under Section 55A of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 carries an imprisonment term of up to 3 years, or a fine of up to $50,000, or both. The offence of unauthorised disclosure of access code under Section 8A of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 carries an imprisonment term of up to 3 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
The Police take a serious stance against any person who is involved in facilitating scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice to crime, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use their Singpass credentials, bank accounts or mobile lines as one could be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam helpline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
25 September 2024 @ 6:30 PM