According to the Police media release, 157 people consisting of 97 men and 60 women are under investigation for a variety of scams.
Commercials Affairs Department and 7 Police Land Divisions conducted an operation against scams that last for two weeks between 28 January and 10 February 2022
The 157 individuals are assisting in investigations for their suspected involvement in scams as scammers or money mules.
- The suspects are believed to be involved in more than 495 cases of scams, comprising mainly of”
- Internet love scams
- e-commerce scams
- bank-related phishing scams
- tech support scams
- China/Government Officials impersonation scams
- investment scams
- job scams
- loan scams
In total, the victims lost over $2 million.
Potential Penalties:
The suspects are being investigated for the alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The offence of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 carries an imprisonment term not exceeding 10 years, a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both. The offence of carrying on a business to provide any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence under Section 5 of the Payment Services Act 2019 carries a fine not exceeding $125,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding three years, or both.
Information about scams
For more information on scams, members of the public can call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
All information will be kept strictly confidential.