SINGAPORE – More than 300 suspected scammers were rounded up in a two-week police operation earlier this month. Victims were estimated to have lost close to $6 million.
In a release issued on Saturday (June 25), the police said the 220 men and 107 women – aged between 15 and 78 – are helping investigations.
They are being investigated for the alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence.
The police said: “The suspects are believed to be involved in more than 1,138 cases of scams, comprising mainly bank-related phishing scams, Internet love scams, government and China officials impersonation scams, e-commerce scams, investment scams, job scams and loan scams.”
The operation between June 10 and 23 was conducted by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions.
For each count of cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
An offender found guilty of money laundering can be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both, for each charge.
For each count of providing payment services without a licence, an offender can be fined up to $125,000, jailed for up to three years, or both.
The police urged members of the public to reject requests by others to use their bank account or mobile phone lines, to avoid being an accomplice to crimes.
They added that they take a serious stance against anyone who may be involved in scams, and that perpetrators will be…
