665 people being probed over scams involving more than $19m
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The cases under probe comprise mainly friend impersonation scams, e-commerce scams, internet love scams, investment scams and job scams.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
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SINGAPORE – The police said 665 people are assisting in the investigations of scams where victims reportedly lost more than $19 million.
The 413 men and 252 women, aged between 15 and 79, are suspected to have been scammers or money mules in more than 3,600 cases of scams. These cases comprise mainly friend impersonation, e-commerce, investment, job and internet love scams.
This comes after officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions conducted a two-week operation between July 5 and 18.
Individuals found guilty of cheating can be jailed up to 10 years and fined, while those convicted of money laundering can be jailed up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both.
Anyone who runs a business to provide any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence can be jailed up to three years, fined up to $125,000, or both.
Warning that accomplices to crimes will be held accountable, the police urged people to always reject requests by others to use their bank account or mobile lines.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the anti-scam helpline on 1800-722-6688.
Those with information on such scams may call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness
