The Police have arrested a 19-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in various offences linked to money mule activities which include cheating and facilitating unauthorised access to computer material.
Between October 2022 and June 2023, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller amounting to more than $120,000. After receiving the payment, the seller did not fulfil the delivery of the items. Through ground enquiries, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on 25 July 2023. Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman had allegedly sold her Carousell and bank accounts to criminal syndicates for more than $1000. She purportedly deceived banks into opening bank accounts before handing over the iBanking PINs to the criminal syndicates.
The woman will be charged in court on 4 August 2023 with the offence of cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence of cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term of up to three years and a fine. The offence of facilitating 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 or both.
The Police take a serious view of these offences and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice to crime, members of the public should always reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising pay-outs for the use of their Singpass account, bank accounts or allow their personal bank account to be used to receive and transfer money for others. The Police would like to remind members of the public that individuals will be held accountable if they are found to be linked to such crimes.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit 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.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
04 August 2023 @ 7:05 AM