Between mid-February and early March 2025, a comprehensive operation was executed by the Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) of the Commercial Affairs Department, in collaboration with the Scam Strike Teams from the Police Land Divisions. This initiative aimed to combat Government Official Impersonation Scams (GOIS), as well as investment and job-related scams, with significant assistance from local banking institutions.
In 2024, the financial toll from scams reached an alarming $1.1 billion, with GOIS, investment, and job scams being the most prevalent. Scammers typically reached out to victims using illegally obtained phone numbers and messaging services, tricking them into transferring funds to bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the fraudsters.
During the operation, ASCom officers partnered with local banks to trace the funds lost by victims, successfully freezing over 300 bank accounts involved in these illicit transactions. The police managed to seize approximately $1.9 million in suspected scam proceeds through meticulous fund tracing. Additionally, law enforcement conducted raids throughout Singapore to apprehend individuals suspected of allowing their bank accounts to be used by scammers for money laundering purposes. This effort led to the arrest of 20 men and 5 women, aged between 18 and 40, while investigations are ongoing for another 65 individuals.
The police also worked closely with key industry players, including social media platforms, messaging app providers, and telecommunications companies, to disrupt over 1,300 online enablers and shut down more than 1,700 phone lines associated with scams.
Investigations are currently underway regarding violations of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992, as well as the Computer Misuse Act 1993. Under Section 55A(1) of the Corruption Act, those found guilty of assisting others in retaining benefits from criminal activities may face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $50,000, or both. Similarly, unauthorized access to computer materials under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act can result in a maximum of two years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both for first-time offenders.
The police maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards individuals involved in facilitating scams, ensuring that offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. To prevent becoming unwitting accomplices, the public is urged to decline any requests to use their SingPass credentials, bank accounts, or mobile lines, as they could be held liable if these are linked to criminal activities.
It is crucial for the public to remember that government officials will never solicit money transfers to personal bank accounts or request sensitive information such as banking details, SingPass, or CPF information over the phone. To avoid falling victim to investment scams, individuals are strongly encouraged to exercise caution when considering investment opportunities. Legitimate investment firms will not ask investors to transfer funds to personal accounts or promote investment products through group chats.
For further information on scams, the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or contact the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Combating scams is a collective responsibility, and together, we can ACT Against Scams to protect our community.