8-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) In a crackdown on a government officials impersonation scam, Singaporean authorities have arrested 18 individuals and are investigating 21 others. The suspects, aged between 16 and 55, are believed to be involved in a complex network of scams that targeted unsuspecting victims, resulting in substantial financial losses.
This police action followed a recent islandwide anti-scam enforcement operation conducted between October 21 and November 6. The operation sought to identify and apprehend those responsible for perpetrating government impersonation scams, which have become a growing concern in Singapore.
The police initiated the operation after receiving a report on October 21 from a victim who fell prey to a government officials impersonation scam, losing more than $90,000 in the process. It was discovered that the fraudsters withdrew the money from ATMs on the same day, utilizing a convoluted web of bank accounts.
The victim’s ordeal began on October 20 when he received a call from an individual claiming to be from DBS Bank. This caller alleged that unauthorized bank transfers had been initiated from the victim’s DBS account to a UOB account. To verify these transfers, the victim was asked a series of questions.
When the victim stated that he had not authorized any such transfers, the scammer claimed that the matter would be referred to the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Subsequently, the victim received calls from four different individuals, all posing as police officers. They accused the victim of involvement in a money laundering case, pointing to a $80,000 transfer to his bank account and the discovery of his credit card in the possession of another suspect.
One of the scammers even sent a fake police warrant card via WhatsApp. Another, posing as an investigation officer, dispatched two fraudulent letters featuring the Singapore Police Force logo. These letters asserted that the victim needed to open an “OCBC safety account” as part of the ongoing investigation.
The victim was instructed to transfer funds to this account to aid the police in tracking the money. Trusting that this “safety account” was legitimate, the victim transferred over $90,000 to it.
After reporting the incident to the police, the Commercial Affairs Department’s Anti-Scam Command initiated an investigation, ultimately leading to the large-scale operation.
During the operation, authorities arrested twelve individuals suspected of facilitating fraudulent activities by selling or renting their bank accounts to criminal syndicates. They provided access to bank cards and internet banking credentials, enabling these syndicates to withdraw funds from fraudulently obtained accounts and activate fraudulently acquired bank cards, all part of an elaborate web of scams.
As the investigation continues, five individuals have been formally charged so far. The authorities seized at least five mobile phones, over 90 SIM cards, around 80 bank cards, and various bank correspondences. An additional person is expected to face charges for abetting unauthorized access to a bank’s computer system, which carries potential fines of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both for first-time offenders.
In light of these developments, the police have urged the public to be cautious and to reject any requests to use their personal bank accounts for receiving and transferring money on behalf of others. They emphasized that individuals found connected to such criminal activities will be held accountable.
The police also recommended the use of the ScamShield app, the enabling of security features like two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication for banking services, and setting transaction limits for online banking platforms like PayNow. Additionally, they advised against allowing anyone to access personal Singpass credentials.
