SINGAPORE: Seventeen people will be charged this week for their alleged involvement in a string of scams that caused more than S$1.6 million (US$1.23 million) in losses, the police said on Nov 2.
The suspects – 14 men and three women, aged between 17 and 45 – were arrested for their suspected roles in various scams, including government official impersonation, job, e-commerce, investment, fake buyer, remittance and malware-enabled phishing.
Preliminary investigations found that the suspects allegedly relinquished or sold their bank accounts and Singpass credentials, enabling criminal syndicates to launder illicit proceeds.
Some are believed to have deceived banks into opening accounts before handing over their internet banking details to unknown individuals. One suspect is said to have assisted syndicates in withdrawing cash from multiple bank accounts via ATMs.
The suspects will be charged between Nov 3 and 7 with offences linked to scam-related money mule activities. These include abetment to cheating, assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct, abetting unauthorised access to computer material, and the unlawful disclosure of passwords or access codes.
Those convicted of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct, or cheating, face jail terms of up to three years, fines or both. Facilitating unauthorised access to computer material carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail, a fine, or both for a first offence.
The unlawful disclosure of passwords or access codes carries up to three years’ jail, a fine, or both.
The suspects will also face restrictions on access to certain banking services that could be used to move scam proceeds. These include digital and mobile banking, card-based transactions and ATM services.
The police said firm action will be taken against those involved in scams, and offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law. They advise the public to reject offers of quick cash in exchange for the use of their Singpass or bank accounts, and avoid allowing others to use their accounts to receive or transfer money.
Those linked to mule-related offences – whether under investigation, warned, prosecuted or convicted – may face restrictions on banking services and mobile line subscriptions to prevent further facilitation of scams, the police added.
Recently, 38 people aged between 15 and 52 were arrested over four days at the end of October for their suspected involvement in scams as money mules, the police also said on Nov 1.
They allegedly sold or rented their payment accounts to criminal syndicates for monetary gain. Another nine people, aged between 16 and 55, are being investigated. One of them – a 55-year-old woman – previously fell victim to an internet love scam and lost about $300,000.
Close to half a billion dollars was lost to scams in the first half of 2025, with nearly 20,000 cases reported in Singapore. About 1,000 victims lost more than $100,000 each in the first half of 2025, up from around 700 a year earlier, latest police data showed. - The Straits Times/ANN
