29 people nabbed for their alleged involvement in various scams

SINGAPORE – Twenty-nine people aged between 17 and 48 have been arrested for their alleged involvement in various scams.

These scams include government and China officials impersonation, internet love scams, malware phishing scams, non-banking related phishing scams and offering sexual services scams, the police said on July 2.

Police investigations showed that 20 of the suspects were found to have allegedly sold or rented their bank accounts to criminal syndicates or assisted by carrying out bank transfers.

Four other suspects are said to have cheated the banks into opening bank accounts before handing over the ATM cards and internet banking credentials to the criminal syndicates, while five others allegedly sold their Singpass credentials to criminal syndicates who misused the information to create new bank accounts.

The 29 suspects are expected to be charged in court on July 3 for their suspected involvement in various offences in connection with money mule activities, the police said.

These include abetment to cheating, assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct, abetting unauthorised access to computer material, unauthorised disclosure of access code and carrying on an unlicensed business of providing payment service.

Those found guilty of conspiring to cheat the bank into opening a bank account can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

First-time offenders who abet unknown persons to secure unauthorised access to the bank’s computer system can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both.

Those who assist others to retain benefits from criminal conduct may be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both.

First-time offenders guilty of unauthorised disclosure of access codes could be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

Anyone convicted of providing payment services without a licence can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $125,000, or both.

The police urged members of the public to always reject any seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising fast and easy payouts for the use of their Singpass or bank accounts to transfer or receive money for others. Those found linked to such crimes will be held accountable, the police said.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline on 1800-722-6688.