Three men, aged 19, 22 and 33, will be charged in court on 2 September 2022 for their alleged involvement in offences connected to money laundering activities.
In the first case, the 19-year-old man allegedly made a deal with an unknown person over Telegram to open bank accounts and hand over control of these accounts to the unknown person in return for money. The man allegedly cheated banks into opening two bank accounts, and subsequently handed over the internet-banking login username, password and One-Time-Password (“OTP”) of both bank accounts to the unknown person. The man will be charged with cheating and abetting unknown persons to gaining unauthorised access to banks’ computer systems.
In the second case, the 22-year-old man allegedly responded to a Facebook post in November 2021 which offered him fast cash if he agreed to rent out his bank account. He was contacted by an unknown person who offered him RM1,600 a month in return for his bank account. Subsequently, the man allegedly provided the Internet-banking login username, password and OTP of his bank account to the unknown person. The man will be charged with abetting unknown persons to gaining unauthorised access to the bank’s computer system.
In the third case, the 33-year-old man allegedly responded to a post from a website which offered him fast cash to sell his bank account. He contacted an unknown person who offered him S$900 in return for his bank account and prepaid SIM card. Subsequently, the man allegedly provided the ATM card with PIN, Internet-banking login username, password and OTP of his bank account and prepaid SIM card to the unknown person. The man will be charged with assisting another to control benefits of criminal conduct.
These compromised bank accounts were later employed to launder proceeds of crime derived from various scams. At least eight persons became victims in these scams, and a total of at least $370,000 was laundered and lost through these bank accounts.
The offence of cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, or with fine, or both.
The offence of unauthorised access to computer material under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. For repeat offenders, the offence carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fined of up to $10,000, or both.
The offence of assisting another to control benefits of criminal conduct under Section 44(1)(a) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both.
The Police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice in these crimes, members of the public should always reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising fast and easy pay-outs for the use of their bank accounts, or for allowing their personal accounts to be used to receive and transfer money for others. Remember that you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
01 September 2022 @ 11:30 PM