Two-week long police op uncovers 639 scam suspects, S$17.7 million in losses

[SINGAPORE] The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Friday (Jul 18) that 639 persons are under investigation for suspected involvement in over 2,200 scams, which have collectively led to losses of at least S$17.7 million.

A two-week operation conducted by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions between Jul 4 and 17 netted more than 600 individuals – 171 women and 468 men – suspected of involvement in scam cases as scammers or money mules.

The cases comprised friend impersonation, investment, job, e-commerce, government official impersonation and rental scams, the police said. The individuals are under investigation for alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence.

“To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use (their) bank account or mobile lines, as (they) will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes,” they said.

The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine; money laundering carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to S$500,000.

The penalty for conducting an unlicensed business that provides any type of payment service in Singapore is a fine of up to S$125,000, an imprisonment term of up to three years, or both.