254 people in police probe for involvement in scams where victims lost $7.5m
They are being investigated for alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence.
The police in Singapore have initiated a probe into 254 individuals suspected of involvement in scams, resulting in victims losing approximately $7.5 million. The suspects, comprising 151 men and 103 women aged between 15 and 79, are currently assisting law enforcement in their investigation. The scams, which include e-commerce, phishing, job, government official impersonation, investment, and lucky draw scams, have been traced across more than 652 incidents.
The police operation, spanning two weeks from August 27 to September 9, is led by the Cyber Command and seven police land divisions. Those found guilty of cheating, money laundering, or operating a payment service without a license could face up to 10 years in prison or substantial fines. Scammers and members of scam syndicates may receive mandatory caning, while scam mules who assist in laundering proceeds or providing SIM cards or Singpass credentials could face discretionary caning.
The police encourage the public to report scam-related information through their hotline or online portal, assuring that all information will be kept confidential.
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