Three men, aged between 29 and 33, will be charged in court on 20 February 2025 for their suspected involvement in providing fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards for scam-related activities.
Investigations revealed that the trio were offered cash or online gambling credits in return for providing between 10 to 30 SIM cards for scam-related and unlicensed moneylending-related activities. The 33-year-old man also shared his SingPass credentials with unlicensed moneylenders to register for additional phonelines for the purpose of advertising unlicensed moneylending activities.
The three men will be charged in court for offences under Section 39B(1) read with 39B(2)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 and offences under the Moneylenders Act 2008. The 33-year-old man will also be charged with 19 counts of assisting to carry on unlicensed moneylending business, which is punishable under Section 19(1)(b)(i) of the Moneylenders Act 2008.
The offence of knowingly providing a fraudulently registered SIM cards 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, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.
Under the Moneylenders Act 2008, first-time offenders found guilty of carrying on or assisting to carry on business of unlicensed moneylending shall be punished with imprisonment term of up to four years, a fine of between $30,000 and $300,000, and caning of up to six strokes.
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.
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.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
19 February 2025 @ 7:04 PM