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Police Crack Down on Scams: $1.9M Seized, 25 Arrested in Major Operation

 




Between mid-February and early March 2025, the Commercial Affairs Department’s Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) and the Police Land Divisions’ Scam Strike Teams carried out a large-scale island-wide operation against Government Official Impersonation Scams (GOIS), investment scams, and job scams. This effort, conducted with support from local banks, aimed to dismantle networks facilitating fraudulent activities that have been causing significant financial losses.

In 2024, total scam losses in Singapore soared to a staggering $1.1 billion, with GOIS, investment, and job scams contributing the highest amounts. These scams typically involved fraudsters contacting victims through illegally obtained phone numbers and messaging platforms, tricking them into transferring money to bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets under criminal control.

As part of the crackdown, officers collaborated with banks to trace stolen funds and freeze over 300 bank accounts linked to these scams. Through fund tracing, the police managed to seize approximately $1.9 million in suspected scam proceeds. At the same time, coordinated raids were conducted across Singapore, resulting in the arrest of 20 men and 5 women, aged between 18 and 40. An additional 65 individuals are currently under investigation for their alleged involvement in these fraudulent schemes.

Authorities also worked closely with key industry stakeholders, including social media companies, messaging platforms, and telecommunications firms, to dismantle digital infrastructures used by scammers. This joint effort led to the disruption of over 1,300 online enablers and the termination of more than 1,700 phone lines linked to fraudulent activities.

Investigations into the case are ongoing under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 and the Computer Misuse Act 1993. Individuals found guilty of assisting in retaining the benefits of criminal conduct under Section 55A(1) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act could face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $50,000, or both. Additionally, first-time offenders convicted of unauthorized access to computer materials under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act may be sentenced to up to two years in prison, fined up to $5,000, or both.

The police have reiterated their firm stance against individuals who facilitate scams, warning that anyone involved will be dealt with according to the law. To avoid being implicated in criminal activities, the public is urged to reject any requests to share their SingPass credentials, bank accounts, or mobile phone lines, as they could be held responsible if these are misused for illegal purposes.

Authorities also reminded the public that legitimate government officials will never ask individuals to transfer money to private accounts or disclose sensitive banking, SingPass, or CPF-related details over the phone. For investment-related scams, people are advised to exercise caution when making financial decisions, as no reputable investment company will request money transfers to personal accounts or conduct sales through group chats.

For more information on scams and prevention measures, the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or contact the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. The fight against scams requires collective effort, and authorities encourage everyone to remain vigilant and take proactive steps to protect the community.

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Location: Singapore

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