Singapore, Malaysia police bust Internet love scam syndicate which cheated at least 10 victims of over $240,000

SINGAPORE - The Singapore police and its counterparts across the Causeway have launched a joint probe against a cross border Internet love scam syndicate believed to be responsible for conning at least 10 victims of over $240,000.

In a statement on Thursday (Feb 8), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said its Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Royal Malaysia Police's (RMP) Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) launched the investigation in December last year.

Two women and a man were arrested by CCID officers in Malaysia that same month for their suspected involvement in several Internet scam cases in both countries.

Officers found out the syndicate allegedly relied on people in Singapore for the receipt and transfer of criminal proceeds.

Following the arrests in Malaysia, CAD officers in Singapore investigated six women and two men in January this year for allegedly using their bank accounts to receive funds from the syndicate's victims.

CAD froze at least 21 bank accounts here and recovered over $50,000. At least 10 cases in Singapore involving losses of over $240,000 were solved as a result of the joint investigation between CAD and CCID.

Said CAD director David Chew: "The SPF will continue to collaborate closely with our counterparts from the RMP to eradicate these syndicates who attempt to use territorial boundaries and the anonymity of the Internet to fleece Malaysian and Singaporean victims.

"In addition to our enforcement efforts abroad, the SPF will make every effort to detect and interdict their network of local money launderers who abuse our financial system to help the syndicates retain and repatriate their ill-gotten gains."

The maximum punishment for acquiring or transferring criminal benefits under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Offences (Confiscation of Benefits) Act is up to 10 years' jail, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.

Last year, the number of Internet love scam cases rose by 29.9 per cent to 825 cases, up from 635 cases the previous year. The total amount cheated from victims last year increased by 54.2 per cent to about $37 million, up from about $24 million in 2016.

In its statement, the police advised members of the public to be careful when befriending strangers online. They should also be wary if asked to send money to those whom they do not know, the statement advised.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688.

Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.