According to the Police media release, a two-week operation from April 15 to April 28, 2022 was conducted by the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police Land Divisions which lead to the investigations of 268 individuals.
A total of 175 males and 93 women, aged 14 to 75, are now assisting in investigations for their alleged involvement in frauds as money mules or scammers. The accused are suspected of being involved in over 680 incidents of scams, mostly including Internet love scams, e-commerce scams, China/Government Officials impersonation scams, tech support scams, investment scams, employment scams, and loan scams, in which victims lost over $5.8 million.
Investigations
The suspects are being investigated for the alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence.
The offence 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 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 carries a fine not exceeding $125,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding three years, or both.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or 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.