SINGAPORE: About S$1.9 million in suspected scam proceeds were seized by the police’s Anti-Scam Command (ASC) in a near month-long joint operation targeting government official impersonation, investment and job scams.
In a media statement on May 29, the police said that 400 bank accounts were also frozen in the operation, which took place from April 15 to May 13 and involved officers from ASC working with the police land divisions’ Scam Strike teams and participating local banks.
Island-wide raids were conducted to locate those suspected of handing their bank accounts over to scammers for use in money laundering activities.
Nine people – seven men and two women between the ages of 18 and 33 – were arrested, and another 33 people are being investigated.
The 42 people are believed to be involved in more than 200 cases of scams.
The police also disrupted over 900 online enablers and terminate more than 806 phone lines used in the scams.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Those convicted of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct in certain circumstances may be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $50,000, or both.
For the offence of unauthorised access to computer material, convicted individuals may be jailed up to two years, fined $5,000, or both.
The police advised members of the public to always reject requests by others to use their SingPass credentials, bank accounts or mobile lines to avoid being held accountable for their misuse.
For more information on scams, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg, or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. - The Straits Times/ANN
