Police in Singapore arrest 25, seize $1.9 million

Singapore police have arrested 25 people and are investigating another 65 as part of a major anti-scam operation. This operation took place from mid-February to early March. It aimed to tackle scams involving impersonation of government officials, investment fraud, and job scams. The police seized about $1.9 million believed to be proceeds from these scams. They also froze more than 300 bank accounts connected to suspicious activities. The arrested individuals include five women and 20 men, all aged between 18 and 40. During the operation, the police collaborated with local banks, social media platforms, and telecommunications companies. They managed to disrupt over 1,300 online scams and shut down more than 1,700 phone lines used for fraudulent activities. In 2024, Singapore faced a record loss of $1.1 billion due to scams. Most of these losses were from impersonation, investment, and job scams. Scammers often trick victims into transferring money to their own accounts or cryptocurrency wallets. The police encourage the public to be cautious. They advise against sharing Singpass credentials, bank accounts, or phone lines with others. Citizens should also be careful when making investments, as legitimate companies do not ask for money transfers to personal accounts. For more details on scams, the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.