On 26 June 2023, Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) and Johor CCID of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) conducted a joint operation in Johor, Malaysia, to cripple a transnational scam syndicate. The syndicate comprised of three Singaporean members allegedly involved in the money laundering of scam proceeds obtained from Singaporean victims.
Since April 2023, the SPF and RMP shared information derived from reported scam cases in Singapore. The joint investigations identified the money laundering syndicate operating in Johor, Malaysia. On 26 June 2022, officers from CCID/RMP conducted a raid at an apartment complex in Johor, Malaysia leading to the arrest of three male Singaporeans aged between 26 and 40 for their suspected involvement in managing cross border money transfers. They are believed to be responsible for laundering the scam proceeds linked to more than 50 police reports of Investment Scams, Job Scams, E-Commerce Scams and Government Official Impersonation Scams reported in Singapore involving losses amounting to more than S$2.9 million. Preliminary investigations indicated that the three Singaporeans are believed to have procured Singapore bank accounts through various chat platforms such as Telegram and Facebook to launder the syndicate’s scam proceeds.
Two of the male Singaporeans aged 34 and 26 were extradited to Singapore on 30 June 2023 and will be charged in court on 1 July 2023 with assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct under Section 51 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992. The offence is punishable with a fine not exceeding $500,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both. The other male Singaporean is currently still under investigation by the RMP for a separate offence committed in Malaysia.
Deputy Director CAD, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Shee Tek Tze said, “Scammers need bank accounts from money mules to launder and move the scam proceeds out of Singapore in order to avoid detection and confiscation by the Police. They are constantly looking to procure more bank accounts to facilitate their money laundering activities. Members of the public are advised to ignore offers of quick monetary gains, including those on chat platforms such as Telegram or Facebook, in return for the use of your bank accounts. The Singapore Police Force will continue to collaborate closely with the Royal Malaysia Police to target these transnational syndicates. We would like to express our appreciation to the Director of Bukit Aman CCID, Commissioner Dato Sri Ramli Bin Mohamed Yoosuf as well as Johor Police Chief, Commissioner Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat and their officers, for the strong support and commitment in tackling the transnational scam syndicates which target our citizens”.
The Police would also like to advise members of the public to call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688 or visit www.scamalert.sg to seek scam-related advice. Join the ‘Let’s Fight Scams’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next scam victim.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
03 July 2023 @ 8:50 PM