Following simultaneous raids at three mobile phone shops on 5 March 2025, the Police have arrested two men, aged 30 and 58, for their suspected involvement in the fraudulent registration of prepaid SIM cards. Seven other men and a woman, aged between 27 and 50, are assisting with investigations. The three mobile phone shops are:
- ARS Digital World Pte Ltd (located at 182 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218058);
- Univercell Mobiles Technology (located at 256 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218094); and
- Icares Mobile Services (located at 200 Woodlands Industrial Park E7 #01-12, Singapore 757177).
The operation, led by officers from the Unlicensed Moneylending Strikeforce from the Criminal Investigation Department, targeted errant mobile phone retailers and their employees who were suspected to be involved in the fraudulent registration of prepaid SIM cards. Preliminary investigations revealed that these persons had allegedly used information from legitimate customers to pre-register for additional prepaid SIM cards. An assortment of mobile phones, mobile registration documents and SIM cards were seized during the operation.
The Police are investigating the 10 persons for the following offences:
- Illegally obtaining personal information under Section 416A of the Penal Code 1871, which is punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, an imprisonment term of up to three years, or both;
- Unauthorised modification of computer material under Section 5(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993, which is punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, an imprisonment for a term of up to three years, or both; and
- Facilitating the fraudulent registration of SIM cards that facilitate criminal activity under Section 39G(1) read with 39G(2)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906, is punishable with fine of up to $10,000, an imprisonment for a term of up to three years, or both.
The Police take a serious view of these offences and will continue to take enforcement action against errant mobile phone retailers who enable criminal syndicates, directly or indirectly, to exploit local SIM cards and eSIMs as an anonymous channel of communication to facilitate illicit activities such as unlicensed moneylending, scams and vice.
For more information on the misuse of SIM cards, members of the public can visit www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Crime/Misuse-of-SIM-Card-Offences. Members of the public can also call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in the fraudulent registration of SIM cards, unlicensed moneylending, scams, vice, or other criminal activities. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential.
Photo of exhibits seized, which include mobile phones, notebooks with entries, SIM cards, and documents with Telco’s QR codes.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 March 2025 @ 8:00 AM