Police Bust Major Government Official Impersonation Scam

A total of 26 men and nine women, aged between 17 and 47, have been arrested for their suspected involvement in a series of Government Official Impersonation Scam (GOIS) cases. The arrests were made during a week-long island-wide anti-scam operation conducted between 30 September and 8 October 2024. Another 12 men and 10 women, aged between 17 and 61, as well as a 16-year-old boy, are assisting in the ongoing investigations.

The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) carried out simultaneous operations across Singapore, apprehending 35 suspects. Preliminary investigations revealed that 25 men and nine women, aged between 17 and 46, had allegedly facilitated the scam by providing their bank accounts or Internet banking credentials for financial gains. A 47-year-old man is believed to have received illicit proceeds in his bank account.

Since early September 2024, police have received several reports of GOIS cases, where scammers impersonated bank and government officials, including officers from DBS, OCBC, UOB, or Standard Chartered Bank. Victims were told that fraudulent transactions had been detected in their accounts, leading to the scammers transferring them to "government officials" (impersonating police or Monetary Authority of Singapore officers). In some instances, scammers used fake badges, warrant cards, or video calls with official logos to appear credible. Victims were then coerced into transferring money to "safety accounts" under the guise of aiding investigations.

The offences carry serious legal consequences, including up to three years in prison under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking, and Other Serious Crimes Act. Additionally, cheating and Computer Misuse Act violations could result in further fines or imprisonment. The police emphasized strict action against offenders and urged the public to protect their bank and Singpass credentials from misuse.

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