Police investigating 242 suspected scammers, money mules; over $11.4 million lost
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The suspects comprise 160 men and 82 women, aged between 16 and 73, the police said in a statement on April 4.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE - A total of 242 suspected scammers and money mules are being investigated by the police, for cheating, money laundering and providing illegal payment services.
They are believed to be involved in more than 1,100 scam cases – including job, e-commerce, and government official impersonation scams – where victims lost over $11.4 million in all.
The suspects comprise 160 men and 82 women, aged between 16 and 73, the police said in a statement on April 4.
They were rounded up in a two-week operation from March 21 to April 3, which involved officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and seven police land divisions.
One should always reject requests to use their bank account or mobile lines, as they would be held accountable if the account or line is linked to crimes, the police said.
The number of scam and cybercrime cases increased by 10.8 per cent in 2024 from 2023, to 55,810 cases, the police said previously in its annual brief on such crimes.
Scams accounted for over 90 per cent of these cases, where victims have lost a total of at least $1.1 billion that year.
To report scams, call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or go to www.police.gov.sg/i-witness www.scamshield.gov.sg
