SINGAPORE — Two Malaysian men have been arrested and are set to face charges in Singapore over separate government official impersonation scams that caused victims to hand over about S$55,000 in cash and valuables.
The men, aged 24 and 35, were arrested on Oct. 6 after Singapore police investigated two cases in which victims were allegedly tricked into believing they were dealing with officials from Singapore authorities. Both are due to be charged on Thursday (Oct. 8).
Police said the cases occurred on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 and involved a similar method: victims were told they were under investigation and instructed to surrender money or valuables for supposed investigative purposes.
Woman handed over S$16,000 in valuables
In the first case, a 71-year-old woman was contacted on Oct. 5 by someone claiming to represent YouTrip.
She was allegedly told that an unauthorised transaction had been made in her name to purchase an insurance policy. After she denied making the purchase, the caller allegedly transferred her to another person claiming to be an officer from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
The purported MAS officer then allegedly told the woman that she was involved in a money-laundering investigation.
She was also shown a forged court document purportedly issued by the “Supreme Court”, which demanded that she surrender her assets for investigation.
Believing the instructions, the woman handed over gold jewellery and other valuables worth about S$16,000 to a male collector that same day. Her son later discovered what had happened and contacted the police.
Second victim handed over S$39,000
The second case was reported to police on Oct. 6.
In that case, a victim was allegedly told that his identity had been used to purchase an M1 SIM card.
After he denied making the purchase, the caller allegedly told him that the matter would be transferred to the Singapore Police Force for investigation.
A second caller, posing as a police officer, then allegedly instructed the victim to assist with the investigation by handing over cash.
The victim subsequently met a man near Hougang Avenue 3 and handed over S$39,000.
He later realised that he had been deceived and made a police report.
Police track down two suspects
Investigators from the Singapore Police Force’s Cyber Command, with assistance from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), identified the suspected collectors.
The 24-year-old man was arrested on Oct. 6.
The 35-year-old was also identified the same day and arrested in the vicinity of Woodlands Checkpoint with assistance from the Police Operations Command Centre and ICA.
Preliminary investigations indicate that both men were allegedly tasked by unknown individuals believed to be members of a transnational scam syndicate.
Police said the suspects’ alleged role was to collect cash or valuables from victims and pass them on to other unidentified individuals.
The two men will be charged with abetment by conspiracy to assist another person to retain benefits from criminal conduct under Singapore’s Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.
If convicted, they face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both.
Police warn of growing cross-border scam activity
The arrests come as Singapore police say they are seeing an increasing trend of Malaysian nationals travelling to Singapore to assist scam syndicates in collecting cash, gold and other valuables from victims.
The warning follows a series of similar cases involving government official impersonation scams.
Earlier this month, a 21-year-old Malaysian man, Sugumaran Mohan, was sentenced to three years, two months and two weeks in jail and two strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to dealing with the benefits of crime. He had collected almost S$200,000 in cash and valuables from four victims while working as a runner for a transnational crime syndicate.
In another case in July, Singapore police announced the arrest of two Malaysian men linked to an overseas scam operation believed to have targeted Singapore residents in more than 50 government official impersonation cases involving losses exceeding S$1.4 million.
Government officials will not ask for cash
Police reminded the public that genuine Singapore government officials will never ask people to transfer money over the phone or surrender cash and valuables for an investigation.
Authorities also warned that members of the public should never hand over jewellery, cash or other valuables to unidentified individuals, leave money at a location for collection, or disclose banking login credentials.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call can seek help through the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Police also urged people who have information about suspected scams to contact the authorities.
The latest cases underscore how impersonation scams can combine fake institutions, forged documents and urgent demands to make victims believe they are caught up in a criminal investigation.
For Singapore residents, police are again stressing a simple warning: a real government investigation will not require you to hand your money or valuables to a stranger.
