Man arrested over role in purchase of e-wallets from work permit holders for scams
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Since May, the suspect had allegedly been accessing the Singpass accounts of work permit holders to apply for e-wallets.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
- A 21-year-old man was arrested for buying e-wallets from work permit holders to commit scams, involving at least $9,792 in fraudulent transactions.
- The suspect accessed Singpass accounts to apply for e-wallets, paying work permit holders $50 each; investigations into these holders continue.
- Police warn the public not to share Singpass or e-wallet details to avoid misuse and potential legal consequences for involvement in scams.
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SINGAPORE – A man has been arrested over his suspected role in a scheme to purchase e-wallets from work permit holders for use in scams.
The 21-year-old is set to be charged in court on Aug 27 with cheating, the police said in a statement on Aug 26.
Since May, the suspect had allegedly been accessing the Singpass accounts of work permit holders to apply for e-wallets. The work permit holders purportedly received $50 each for this.
Scam proceeds of at least $9,792 were found to have been transacted through these e-wallets.
The police conducted an operation on Aug 25 and Aug 26 to establish the identities of the suspect and the work permit holders, and took enforcement action against them, arresting the man.
If found guilty, he may be fined or jailed for up to three years, or both.
Investigations into the work permit holders for selling their e-wallets are ongoing.
They can be charged with abetment of cheating, which carries a fine or a maximum jail term of three years, or both.
The police urge the public not to accept offers of quick financial gains in exchange for their bank accounts, e-wallets, Singpass accounts or credentials.
In the statement, they highlighted that members of the public should never disclose their Singpass passwords or two-factor authentication details to unknown individuals.
The danger is that the information may be misused to access various digital services, including the opening of bank accounts, e-wallets, crypto accounts and mobile-phone lines for illegal activities.
Individuals found to be linked to such crimes will be held accountable, said the police.
According to mid-year police statistics on scams released on Aug 26, losses from scams fell to $410.6 million in the first six months of 2026. Victims lost $500.2 million during the same period in 2025, with $913.1 million lost that year.
The police said there were significant dips in the number of cases for certain scam types, such as insurance services, fake friend call and phishing scams in the first half of 2026.
They added that in the first half of 2026, they also disrupted more than 47,000 scam-related mobile lines, 37,500 WhatsApp lines, 31,600 online monikers and 52,200 malicious websites.
Despite these efforts, eight in 10 victims were still being manipulated into handing their money to scammers.
For more information on scams, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield helpline on 1799.
Anyone with information on such scams may call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness
All information will be kept strictly confidential, said the police.
