24-1-2024 (SINGAPORE) Five Malaysian men are set to face charges in court on January 24, following suspicions of their participation in a scam operation that specifically targeted Singaporeans through fake friend call scams.
The apprehension of these individuals comes as a result of a collaborative effort between the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Johor Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysia Police, who successfully dismantled a transnational scam syndicate in a joint operation.
The suspects, aged between 19 and 36, were taken into custody after Malaysian police officers conducted raids on two apartments in Johor on January 16. Subsequently, they were extradited to Singapore on January 23.
Initial investigations indicate that the syndicate commenced its fraudulent activities in June 2023, potentially being responsible for over 500 scam reports, resulting in losses exceeding $1.4 million.
Fake friend call scams typically involve scammers reaching out to victims via text messages or phone calls, posing as someone known to the victim and subsequently seeking financial assistance.
Statistics from January to November 2023 reveal that more than 6,300 individuals fell victim to fake friend call scams, with cumulative losses surpassing $21.1 million.
The charges against the accused individuals will revolve around engaging in a conspiracy to cheat. If found guilty, each of them could face a jail term of up to 10 years, in addition to fines.
David Chew, the director of CAD, emphasized the close collaboration between Singaporean and Malaysian authorities in identifying and dismantling transnational syndicates. He asserted, “We will continue to take tough action against individuals who perpetuate scams even if they are based overseas.”
The police issued a public advisory, urging caution regarding unusual phone calls or messages from individuals claiming to be “friends” seeking financial assistance.
