232 people investigated for involvement in scams where victims lost $6.15 million
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In 2024, scam victims in Singapore lost $1.1 billion, marking a record high amount of losses suffered in a single year.
PHOTO: ST FILE
SINGAPORE - More than 200 people suspected to be involved in scams resulting in losses of over $6.15 million are being investigated by the police, following a two-week operation.
The 83 women and 149 men, aged between 16 and 72, are suspected to be scammers or money mules in more than 650 cases, the police said in a statement on Aug 29.
These include friend impersonation scams, investment scams, job scams, e-commerce scams, government official impersonation scams and rental scams.
The suspects are being investigated for cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence.
This follows an operation by the Commercial Affairs Department and seven police land divisions from Aug 15 to 28.
In 2024, scam victims in Singapore lost $1.1 billion, marking a record high amount of losses suffered in a single year.
The amount lost to scams in 2024 is around 70 per cent higher than the $651.8 million that scammers took in 2023, said the police earlier.
For more information on scams, call the ScamShield hotline on 1799 or visit www.scamshield.gov.sg www.police.gov.sg/i-witness
