The Police have arrested six men and one woman, aged between 19 and 32, for their suspected involvement in the misuse of Singpass accounts to commit a series of unauthorised attempts to change registered residential addresses through the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) electronic change of address (eCOA) service.
ICA had disclosed on 11 January 2025 that perpetrators were using stolen or compromised Singpass accounts to fraudulently change the addresses of victims. The Police have been working closely with ICA to investigate the matter. Between 11 January 2025 and 13 January 2025, acting on information received, more than 60 officers from the Singapore Police Force’s Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department swiftly mounted an island-wide operation to trace and arrest the persons involved. So far, seven persons suspected to be involved in some of the cases have been arrested.
Collectively, the seven persons are believed to be responsible for at least 30 of the cases of attempted unauthorised change to residential address. Six of the suspects are being investigated for alleged offences under Section 8 of the Computer Misuse Act 1993, for unlawful disclosure of access codes. One suspect is being investigated by the Police for an alleged offence under Section 8A of the Computer Misuse Act 1993, for unlawful disclosure of password or access code in relation to Singpass. Some of the suspects are also being investigated by ICA for alleged breaches of Regulation 20(a) of the National Registration Regulations.
The offence of unauthorised disclosure of access code under Section 8 of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for first time offenders. The offence of unlawful disclosure of password or access code in relation to national digital identity service under Section 8A of the same Act carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for first time offenders. Breach of the Regulation 20(a) of the National Registration Regulations carries an imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to $3,000, or both.
Police investigations to identify the other perpetrators are still ongoing. The Police would like to remind members of the public that Singpass accounts are strictly for personal use and should not be disclosed to any other persons. To avoid being implicated in criminal activities, we should always reject seemingly easy and attractive money-making opportunities that promise fast pay-outs in exchange for the use of our Singpass account, bank accounts or other personal accounts.
The Police take a very serious stance against persons who engage in such conduct that facilitates criminal activities, and will spare no effort to bring them to justice.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
14 January 2025 @ 8:40 PM