SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Police have arrested 18 people and seized over $47,000 in suspected illegal proceeds in an islandwide operation last week to clamp down on money mule scams.
The suspects – 14 men and four women, aged 16 to 37 – were arrested from Feb 11 to 14, police said in a statement on Feb 17.
Twenty five others were being investigated.
“The persons are being investigated for the alleged offences of cheating, unauthorised access to computer material, and/or money laundering,” police said.
Those found guilty of cheating can be jailed up to 10 years and fined, while those found guilty of having unauthorised access to computer material face a jail time of up to two years, a $5,000 fine, or both.
Money laundering, meanwhile, carries a prison term of up to 10 years, a fine of $500,000, or both.
“To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable for their misuse,” police said.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield helpline on 1799.
Anyone with information on such scams may call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. - The Straits Times/ANN
