SINGAPORE: Twenty-five people were arrested, and another 65 are under investigation, after an islandwide anti-scam operation by the police and local banks, which ran from mid-February to early March.
Around S$1.9 million of suspected scam profits was also seized in the blitz, which targeted those involved in government official impersonation, investment, and job scams, the police said in a press statement on Saturday (March 22).
During the operation, the police and banks worked closely to identify and freeze over 300 bank accounts implicated in illegal fund movements.
The force also carried out raids across Singapore to nab those suspected of relinquishing their bank accounts to scammers, who used it to launder money. Five women and 20 men aged between 18 and 40 were arrested.
The police also worked with other stakeholders such as social media and telecommunications companies to disrupt more than 1,300 online enablers and terminate more than 1,700 phone lines linked to scams.
In 2024, scam losses in Singapore amounted to a record high $1.1 billion, with the more than half this amount attributed to government official impersonation, investment, and job scams scams.
In these three types of scams, fraudsters would contact victims through fraudulently acquired phone lines and messaging platforms, and then deceive them into transferring funds to banks or cryptocurrency wallets controlled by scammers.
The police said that to avoid being an accomplice to crime, the public should always reject requests by others to use their Singpass credentials, bank accounts or mobile lines.
They are also advised to be cautious when making investment decisions in order to avoid falling prey to investment scams.
No legitimate investment company, for instance, will ask investors to transfer money to personal bank accounts or use group chats to sell investment products.
For more information on scams, one can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. - The Straits Times/ANN
