𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗨𝗣 𝟮𝟮 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗦
In an island-wide anti-scam enforcement operation conducted from 30 to 31 May 2023, the Police arrested three men, aged between 20 and 50 for their suspected involvement in perpetrating scams.
Another 15 men and seven women, aged between 26 and 65 are also assisting with investigations.
Since March 2023, the Police observed that Singpass credentials were misused to open corporate bank accounts online. Investigations indicated that these corporate account holders had relinquished their Singpass credentials and passwords to the scam syndicates to register companies and open corporate bank accounts, which served as conduits to receive funds from victims of investment scams and job scams.
During the two-day island-wide operation, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and seven Land Divisions arrested three individuals and hauled up 22 others for investigations.
30 bank accounts were frozen for investigations, and more than $189,000 in scam proceeds were seized.
Preliminary investigations revealed that they had allegedly facilitated criminal activities by selling their bank accounts and or relinquishing their Singpass credentials to scam syndicates to create new bank accounts, and in some cases, for returns as much as $700 for each bank account sold.
Some are also believed to have rented their bank accounts to scammers or assisted them with bank transfers and withdrawals for monetary benefits. Police investigations are ongoing.
The Police take a serious view of these offences and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
To avoid being an accomplice to the crime, members of the public should always reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising pay-outs for the use of their Singpass account, or bank accounts or allow their personal bank account to be used to receive and transfer money for others.
The Police would like to remind members of the public that individuals will be held accountable if they are found to be linked to such crimes.