18 arrested, 6 to be charged over their involvement in fraudulently registering SIM cards
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Those arrested are suspected to have provided fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards for monetary gain, said the police.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SINGAPORE – Six people – three men and three women aged between 28 and 39 – will be charged in court between Oct 27 and 31 over their involvement in fraudulently registering SIM cards.
In a statement on Oct 25, the police said 18 suspects – 15 men and three women aged between 18 and 59, including the six to be charged – had been rounded up between Oct 15 and Oct 23 during an islandwide operation.
Carried out by officers from the Anti-Scam Command and police land divisions, the operation was aimed at subscribers who had registered postpaid SIM cards allegedly used for criminal activities such as scams.
Those arrested are suspected to have provided fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards for monetary gain, said the police.
Based on preliminary investigations, the errant subscribers were offered cash rewards of between $10 and $20 per registered SIM card. The subscribers had reportedly handed over between 38 and 66 SIM cards registered under their names to the syndicates.
The subscribers were allegedly instructed to sign up for and purchase SIM cards in bulk across different retailers. After which, they would hand over their registered SIM cards to their courier.
Of the six to be charged next week, five – three men and two men aged between 28 and 38 – are accused of knowingly providing a fraudulently registered SIM card to another person to facilitate a crime for any gain.
Another 39-year-old woman will be charged with knowingly providing personal information for the purpose of registering a SIM card to facilitate a crime for any gain.
Both offences carry a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both. In addition, these individuals will be prohibited from subscribing to new mobile phone lines.
Investigations into the remaining 12 people are ongoing.
Criminal syndicates exploit local SIM cards and eSIMs as a channel of communication for scams, unlicensed moneylending and vice, among other illicit activities, said the police.
Anyone with information on such offences may call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness
