Cyber Crime
Crackdown on Scams: 850 Suspects Under Investigation, Approx. Rs 701 Million Lost
SINGAPORE: In a joint operation between Singapore and Malaysia police, more than 850 individuals suspected of scamming victims of over Rs 701 million are under investigation. The month-long crackdown, conducted between February 10 and March 9, targeted criminals involved in impersonation, investment, rental, internet love, job, and e-commerce scams.
Major Arrests and Financial Seizures
The operation led to the detection and freezing of over 3,400 bank accounts linked to fraudulent activities, with more than Rs 173 million seized. Singapore’s Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) collaborated with Malaysia’s National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), supported by the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
One key arrest included a 34-year-old man in Malaysia on February 28, who allegedly managed a scam group posing as law enforcement officers. Following an arrest warrant issued by Singapore’s State Courts, he was extradited and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit cheating on March 1.
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Internet Love Scam Uncovered
In another case, a 48-year-old woman fell victim to an internet love scam after befriending a fraudster via a dating app in December 2024. Believing he was in financial distress, she transferred over Rs 11 million before realizing it was a scam. Authorities traced the funds to a Malaysian payment service provider, recovering Rs 2 million with the help of NSRC.
Project Frontier+: Strengthening Regional Anti-Scam Efforts
These efforts are part of Project Frontier+ (Funds Recovery Operations and Networks Team, Inspiring Effective Resolution Plus), launched in October 2024. The initiative includes Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, South Korea, and Australia, aiming to enhance international cooperation against scam networks through information sharing and coordinated responses. This Singapore-Malaysia operation marks the first joint anti-scam initiative under Frontier+, with plans for similar operations with other member countries to combat transnational financial crimes.
Rising Scam Losses in Singapore
In 2024, scam victims in Singapore lost a record Rs 95.2 billion, a 70% increase from Rs 56 billion in 2023, police reported on February 25. Cryptocurrency-related scams surged, accounting for 25% of total losses, up from 6.8% in 2023.
David Chew, Director of the Commercial Affairs Department, emphasized the need for regional cooperation against sophisticated scam syndicates. “As transnational scam syndicates evolve, close collaboration between Singapore and Malaysia is crucial to dismantling their networks and protecting victims,” he stated.