16-year-old among 5 people arrested for suspected involvement in scams
Five suspects, aged between 16 and 43, were arrested in the week-long operation. (Photos: Singapore Police Force)
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SINGAPORE: A 16-year-old was among five people arrested for their suspected involvement in scam cases, following a week-long raid against money mule activities in early November.
Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department conducted the islandwide operation between Nov 1 and Nov 7 in collaboration with DBS Bank’s anti-mule team, which was established this year as part of its efforts against scams and money laundering.
The five suspects are aged between 16 and 43. Another 47 people, aged between 17 and 67, are assisting with investigations, police said in a news release on Tuesday (Nov 14).
“These individuals were alleged to have handed over their personal bank accounts to scammers or relinquished their Singpass accounts which were then used by the scammers to open bank accounts,” they said.
More than S$680,000 (US$499,770) was also seized during the operation.
Police defined money mules in the context of scams as “typically persons who facilitate the dissipation of criminal benefits by receiving and transferring proceeds of scam through their bank accounts, or by relinquishing their bank accounts to scammers for such purposes”.
“Money mules play a key role in the way scams are perpetrated, as scammers rely on these bank accounts as conduits for their ill-gotten gains”.
Police said they are investigating the offences of facilitating unauthorised access to computer material as well as cheating.
If found guilty of facilitating unauthorised access to computer material, individuals may be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.
Those convicted of unauthorised disclosure of access code for any wrongful gain or unlawful purpose may be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.
Meanwhile, those convicted of cheating may face a jail term of up to three years and a fine.
“To avoid becoming involved in money laundering activities, members of the public should always reject requests for their personal bank accounts to be used by others,” police said.
They added that members of the public should not relinquish their Singpass accounts to others, as scammers can use the accounts to access “a whole suite of digital facilities”, including opening bank accounts.
