Law enforcement agencies in Singapore have conducted a significant operation resulting in the arrest of twenty-seven individuals suspected of being involved in a wide range of scam operations. The group, consisting of twenty men and seven women between the ages of 17 and 61, is believed to have facilitated criminal activities that led to victim losses exceeding four and a half million dollars.
The suspects are scheduled to be charged in court from September 1 to September 3, 2025. They face a variety of offenses connected to scams-related money mule activities. The specific charges include abetment to cheating, assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct, abetting unauthorized access to computer material, and the unlawful disclosure of passwords or access codes related to the national digital identity service.
Investigations into the group revealed that their actions were critical in enabling criminal syndicates to operate. Twenty-six of the individuals are alleged to have willingly relinquished or sold their personal bank account details and their Singpass credentials to these syndicates. The methods used varied. Some individuals are accused of deceiving financial institutions by opening bank accounts under false pretenses and then immediately handing over their internet banking credentials to unknown persons.
Others are alleged to have unlawfully disclosed their Singpass credentials. This action allowed criminal groups to misuse their identities to open additional bank accounts, which were then used to layer and move illicit funds without detection. One individual within the group is also accused of providing direct assistance to the syndicates by personally making ATM cash withdrawals from several of these compromised bank accounts.
The scams they facilitated were diverse and targeted victims through multiple methods. The list of scams included the Government Officials Impersonation Scam, where victims are tricked by someone pretending to be from a government agency. Other scams involved impersonating bank officers or friends. Additionally, the group was linked to job scams, e-commerce scams, investment scams, and sophisticated malware-enabled phishing scams designed to steal personal data.
The penalties for the involved offenses are severe. The charge of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct can result in an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both. The offense of cheating carries a similar potential penalty of up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. For facilitating unauthorized access to computer material, a first-time conviction can lead to up to two years in jail, a fine, or both. Unlawfully disclosing a password related to the national digital identity service is also a serious crime, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Authorities emphasized that they take a very serious view of these offenses and will not hesitate to take action against anyone involved in such scams, warning that perpetrators will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law. The public is advised to always reject offers that seem too good to be true, which often promise fast and easy money in exchange for the use of their Singpass or bank accounts. Individuals are reminded that they will be held fully accountable if they are found to be linked to such criminal activities.
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