2-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) A meticulous two-week operation conducted by officers from the Central Police Division has uncovered a sinister extortion scam, with 12 suspects identified for their alleged involvement in the nefarious scheme.
According to a statement released by the police on Wednesday (May 1), the suspects, comprising seven men and five women aged between 18 and 46, are accused of participating in a scheme that utilised manipulated obscene pictures to extort money from victims. They allegedly facilitated the scam by providing bank information and SIM cards obtained through illicit means and assisting in the unauthorized accessing of Singpass accounts.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects were either given or promised commissions for their involvement in the operation. During the operation, law enforcement officers seized an assortment of electronic devices and recovered approximately $115,000 in suspected criminal proceeds, some of which are believed to be connected to other scam cases.
A 23-year-old woman is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday to face charges related to facilitating unauthorized access to computer material, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The modus operandi of the scam involved sending threatening letters containing manipulated photos to victims. Over 170 reports of such extortionary letters have been filed between March and April, according to police records.
Victims received photographs of their faces digitally superimposed onto images of a man and a woman engaged in intimate and compromising activities. Accompanying the photos was a note warning of dire consequences unless the victim contacted the provided email address.
One victim, a 50-year-old individual, reported losing $20,000 after responding to the email and transferring the money to the provided bank account.
Reports indicate that several politicians, including Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, MPs Edward Chia, and Tan Wu Meng, were targeted by such letters. They filed police reports following the incidents.
The suspects may face additional charges, including cheating, money laundering, and engaging in the unlicensed provision of payment services, as investigations continue.
