Three men, aged 29 to 33, were arrested for their suspected involvement in providing fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards for monetary gains, following an island-wide anti-scam enforcement operation that was conducted between 24 January and 2 February 2025. Another man and nine other women, aged 19 to 58, are assisting with investigations.
This operation, carried out by officers from the Anti-Scam Command, targeted against errant subscribers registering postpaid SIM cards for scams. Preliminary investigations revealed these three errant subscribers were allegedly offered either cash or online gambling credits in return for handing over between 10 – 30 SIM cards for criminal activities such as scams.
Police investigations are ongoing against the 13 persons.
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 to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.
Criminal syndicates exploit local SIM cards and eSIMs as an anonymous channel of communication for illicit activities such as scams, unlicensed moneylending and vice.
The Police take a serious view of these offences 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. Members of the public are advised to always maintain a clear view of their identification documents to prevent them from being misused.
For more information on misuse of SIM cards, members of the public can visit www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Crime/Misuse-of-SIM-Card-Offences. Anyone with information on such offences may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.
Photos of the Arrests▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
03 February 2025 @ 7:50 PM