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. To submit information on scams, call 1800-255-0000 or go to www.police.gov.sg/i-witness
