'Big Elephant' scam boss faces jail in Singapore for allegedly sending runners to collect victims' gold

Chin Hock Khan, a 27-year-old individual known as Da Xiang, is facing potential imprisonment for orchestrating a scam operation in Singapore, as reported by The Straits Times. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, fined up to S$500,000 ($392,000), or both. According to court documents, Khan allegedly collaborated with others to collect cash and gold from unsuspecting individuals in Singapore between March and June.

He was held in custody, and his case is set to return to court on September 30. Singapore police claim that Khan recruited and organized Malaysians to carry out scams where fraudsters impersonate government officials. Initial investigations revealed that Khan met with at least four Malaysian runners multiple times in Malaysia to assign tasks, coordinate ATM withdrawals, and pay them.

Following Khan's instructions, the runners transported the gold collected from scam victims back to Johor Bahru and delivered it to him in person, as reported by Bernama. Police believe Khan laundered at least S$500,000 in scam and illicit proceeds, although the court documents did not specify a monetary value. The police stated that an increasing number of Malaysians are journeying to Singapore to assist scam syndicates in collecting cash and valuables from victims.

Scam syndicates transcend geographical boundaries, and only through close and sustained cooperation with international partners can authorities effectively dismantle these criminal networks, stated Senior Assistant Commissioner Justin Wong, head of Singapore Police Force's Cyber Command, in a statement quoted by AsiaOne. The police cautioned the public that Singapore government officials will never request them over the phone to transfer money or valuables to strangers, nor ask for their banking login details.