Singapore police seize over S$539,000, freeze 176 bank accounts in anti-scam operation

[SINGAPORE] The Singapore Police Force said on Friday (Dec 12) that it has seized more than S$539,000 in suspected scam proceeds and frozen “over 176 bank accounts” that may have been used in scams.

The enforcement operation was conducted between Nov 17 and 28 by officers from the Anti-Scam Command and Police Land Divisions’ scam strike teams at various locations across Singapore.

It targeted those suspected of carrying out scams involving the impersonation of government officials, fake investment scams and job scams. These, the police noted, were the “among the top five most common scams types” in Singapore in the first half of 2025.

The operation has led to investigations against 176 individuals aged between 16 and 85, who may have let their bank accounts be used for money laundering activities.

Offences by these individuals could include:

• Assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act; and
• Unauthorised access to computer material under the Computer Misuse Act.

The first offence carries an imprisonment term of up to three years or a fine of S$50,000, or both. The second carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both for first-time offenders.