Teenagers among 9 arrested for suspected involvement in money mule activities
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SINGAPORE - Police have arrested nine people, aged between 18 and 35, for their suspected involvement in money mule activities.
Five of the suspects are aged 21 or younger. The offences took place between June 2022 and February 2024.
Preliminary investigations showed the suspects had allegedly relinquished their Singpass and bank account credentials to criminal syndicates for cash, said the police in a statement on June 13.
The suspects are expected to be charged on June 14.
The offences include abetting by conspiracy to commit cheating, abetting to secure unauthorised access to computer material, and unauthorised disclosure of access code.
The youngest offender, an 18-year-old, purportedly cheated banks into opening a bank account and relinquishing his ibanking credentials to a criminal syndicate for a commission in October 2022. He will be charged with abetting by conspiracy to commit cheating and abetting to secure unauthorised access to computer material.
Another case involves a 19-year-old who allegedly gave her Singpass credentials to criminal syndicates for $450 in cash in July 2023. She will be charged with the offence of unauthorised disclosure of access code, police said.
“The police take a serious view of these offences and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” they said.
They urged members of the public to always reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising fast and easy payouts for the use of personal accounts, such as their Singpass and bank accounts.
Members of the public should not allow their personal bank accounts to be used to receive and transfer money for others, they added. Those who are convicted of abetting by conspiracy to cheat a bank into opening bank accounts may be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.
Meanwhile, individuals who are found guilty of abetting to secure unauthorised access to a bank’s computer system may be fined up to $5,000, jailed for up to two years, or both, on the first offence.
The offence of unauthorised disclosure of access code to gain access to any program or data held in any computer carries a fine of up to $10,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both, on the first offence.
