SINGAPORE: Six men were arrested in Malaysia for their suspected involvement in Internet love scams following a joint investigation by Singapore’s Commercial Affairs Department and Malaysia’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department.
They are believed to be part of two transnational syndicates responsible for at least 10 cases in Singapore, involving more than S$310,000, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a news release on Saturday (Apr 30).
Between Mar 22 and Apr 7 this year, the police received reports from two 46-year-old women who said they had fallen prey to Internet love scams.
The first victim met a man on a dating application in March 2021 and developed a relationship with him, said the police.
He claimed to be a US citizen and that he was working in Singapore as a petroleum engineer. The man told the victim he needed money to pay for equipment and custom clearance fees as his bank account was frozen.
The victim transferred a total of S$15,000 to a bank account provided by the man. After these transfers were made, the man purportedly asked for more money and the victim realised it was a scam.
The second victim also met a man on a dating application in February this year. He claimed he was a geologist and was going to visit the victim in Singapore.
On Mar 6, he purportedly asked the victim for S$20,000 to pay for his expenses in Singapore and she transferred the money.
On Mar 20, he asked for another S$20,000, but the victim refused to provide…
