Two women, aged 55 and 60 years old, will be charged in court on 10 March 2022 for their suspected involvement in two separate series of Internet love scams (“ILS”).
In the first series, the Police received two separate reports from victims of an ILS. Investigations revealed that the victims befriended unknown persons on a social media platform. The victims were told by these unknown persons that they had encountered payment issues and urgently needed the victims’ assistance to transfer money to them. The victims then transferred a total of $6,800 to two local beneficiary accounts belonging to the same account holder. They then realised that they had been cheated when they were instructed to make further payments. They subsequently lodged a police report.
In the second series, the Police received a report from a victim of an ILS. Investigations revealed that the victim befriended a male subject through a social media platform. He claimed that he had sent a parcel to Singapore and needed the victim’s help to retrieve the parcel. The victim was subsequently notified by unknown scammers to transfer various payments for delivery, storage, insurance fees and custom clearance certificates for the parcel to be released. In all, she transferred a total of $10,000 through several transactions to a local beneficiary bank account. She then realised that she had been cheated when she was instructed to make further payments. She subsequently lodged a police report. Through investigations, the Police uncovered other ILS victims who had transferred various amounts to the same bank account, as well as to another three bank accounts belonging to the same account holder.
Both women will be charged in court on 10 March 2022.
The 60-year-old woman will be charged with an offence of cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code as well as unauthorised access to computer materials under Section 3 of the Computer Misuse Act. Anyone found guilty of cheating faces up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. Anyone found guilty of unauthorised access to computer materials faces up to fine of up to $5,000, or up to two years’ imprisonment, or both.
The 55-year-old woman will be charged with an offence of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct under Section 44 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (“CDSA”). Any individual found guilty of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct under the CDSA faces a fine of up to $500,000, or up to 10 years’ imprisonment, 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 to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.
If you receive or are asked to receive funds from unknown or dubious sources, please contact the Anti-Scam Helpline 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.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
09 March 2022 @ 9:05 PM